Digital television is a new system of broadcasting television pictures and multiple channels of audio. It offers a method to transmit studio quality pictures and audio to the home with clarity not possible with today's analog broadcast system. There are basically two grades of digital television:

SDTV (Standard Definition Television) offers the same or better quality as today's Digital Broadcast Satellite systems, which are superior to current analog cable or antenna-received signals. These pictures have virtually no ghosts or noise, and typically are shown in a 4x3 screen size format like today's televisions.

HDTV (High Definition Television) will have the best resolution and detail. These pictures are presented in a 16x9 wide-screen, movie-like format and contains up to six times more picture information than SDTV pictures.

What will digital television do for me and why would I want it?

Simply put, the pictures are superior to anything to you have seen. They are clearer and have more detail. Not only that, but HDTV will more closely resemble motion-picture standards by displaying image in wide screen format. Additionally, Dolby Digital Surround sound (AC3) is the audio standard of digital television broadcast, offering high quality, theater-like six-channel sound.

Can I receive these digital television signals on my current television?

You cannot receive digital television signals on today's analog televisions, but set-top boxes are available that will allow off-air DTV signals to be converted to play on your current television. The boxes will provide the same or better quality as an 18" satellite system delivered today. By the year 2009, when today's analog television broadcasts are supposed to be discontinued for full time digital signals, these set-top boxes will receive the digital broadcast signals for your older television.

How are these digital signals received?

The digital signals are broadcast through the air like current analog signals. An antenna, similar to what is used now, will receive these broadcasts and pass the signal to a tuner-decoder which then converts the digital signal to a picture the television can display. The digital signal, like today's analog signals, is now available to those with good reception from the broadcast tower in the Treasure Valley area. One major difference is that, with digital signals, reception problems such as ghosting and noise are eliminated. Additionally, HDTV signals provide a significantly sharper and life-like picture than any you have seen on TV before.  Cable One subscribers can also receive the HDTV signal over the existing cable system.  You can contact Cable One for more information on how to receive the HDTV signal

What kind of programming is available?

Satellite systems now offer HDTV channels, such as HBO, with many more channels to be added. High Definition HBO movies can be watched when using HDTV receivers and a 24" dish. KBCI-DT 2.1, began broadcasting the DTV signal on September 24, 2001, including a full compliment of digital programming provided by the CBS Television network.

When can I receive HDTV programming?

Many cities, including St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Denver, and Boise already have network stations broadcasting digital programming including HDTV.  In virtually all areas, satellite TV is broadcasting HDTV programming (i.e., HBO channels) in HDTV with many more channels to be added soon. These will include more movie channels and sports, such as NFL football games and other events.

What are the tuner-decoders (set-top boxes) for and why will I need one?

In order to receive the digital broadcast, a tuner-decoder will be necessary to convert the digital broadcast into a signal the digital television can understand. Some manufacturers include them in the television and others offer them as an option that can be purchased with the televisions or be added later.

How does digital television work and what is the standard?

Formats:

SDTV These signals broadcast in either 480i (interlaces scan) or 480p (progressive scan) pictures. The 480i is what current, high-quality signals like Digital Broadcast Satellite use. 480p will be an improvement, displaying a more film-like picture. HDTV These signals will broadcast in 1080i (interlaced) or 720p (progressive). Both of these formats provide the sharpest clearest movie-like pictures available. "Line Doubling" or "Quadrupling" Most large screen digital televisions take the current available analog signals (like DVD, cable , digital satellite, antenna broadcasts) and "upconvert" them to a facsimile of an HDTV-like picture - a significant improvement over current displays. This allows ANY signal to be displayed as a much better picture, although not as good as true HDTV broadcasts.

Standards

SDTV Usually a 4x3 picture size; 480i or 480p digital transmitted signals HDTV Must be a 16x9 sized picture (letter boxed 4x3 screen is permissible) at 720p or 1080i resolution picture display high. Although pictures have a horizontal resolution of either 1280 or 1920 lines wide, no minimum is required of the television itself. All HDTV will vary as to the maximum WIDTH resolution (the broadcasts, however, will be transmitted at 1280 or 1920 lines wide). Tuner-decoders To support reception of any digital broadcast, they must receive ALL 18 standard digital signals in SDTV and HDTV and can also be designed to receive HDTV satellite programming. Digital Dolby (AC3)-Surround Sound All boxes and digital televisions must pass this signal for those who have a Dolby Digital sound system. Stereo or regular Dolby Surround signals will also be included in the broadcasts.

What is a "Screen Aspect Ratio"?

4x3 size format This means the screen (or picture itself) is sized 4 units wide by 3 units high - all currently available televisions use this aspect ratio. 16x9 16 units wide by 9 units high - a wide format, movie-like screen aspect ratio.

Additional Information:

Check out the CBS HDTV Programming Schedule

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