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Don't be misled…
you don't have to use a pay service to have "High Definition Television" (HDTV)

If you are at this site, it is quite likely you saw an informational spot stating “This program is available “ FREE Over-The-Air” in HDTV” on a ‘standard’ analog television set. Welcome to our site! You have two decisions to now make…find out what HDTV is all about (read on…), or find what companion HDTV programming is available to you “FREE Over-The-Air”. If you have chosen the later, you may go to the CHECKHD site and lookup the local HDTV programming available to you here.

"Over-the-air" HDTV is just one of the many new and exciting services your local television station is providing you today, with even more services being planned for your future. Free "over-the-air" DTV (Digital Television) has been mandated by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), and all television broadcasters are required to provide this service to you, "over the air"... for FREE!

This site will serve as a resource to you as you begin to understand and enjoy Free HDTV. We will try to provide you with answers to common questions on DTV and HDTV, and provide useful information in helping you make an informed decision that's best for you and your family. Give us time over the coming weeks and months to educate you, so that you can feel confident in making an informed buying choice.

To start, here are some of the FACTS!

What is the difference between Analog and Digital Television?

Analog Television (Standard = NTSC - National Television Standards Committee)
The analog television broadcast system used in the United States for the past 50 years transmits signals as an electronic wave. In the wave, images and sounds are represented by continuously changing frequencies and voltage levels. Transmitters broadcast this signal over the air, and the waves are translated back into images and sounds by TV sets. Unfortunately, the shape of this wave is susceptible to degradation as it travels to your home. This degradation can introduce unwanted elements, called artifacts, into the picture. Many things can interfere with an analog signal, such as planes passing overhead and household appliances.

Digital Television (Standard = ATSC - Advanced Television Systems Committee)
When a digital television signal is transmitted, images and sounds are divided into tiny components of digital information, the ones and zeros of computer language. The digital data provides a more consistent signal that is highly resistant to interference. Unlike the analog wave, there is little chance of misinterpreting what the computer data means. Digital television sets can then receive this data and decode it back into images and sounds. The result is a perfect, studio-quality picture free from the interference, snow and ghosts that appear on analog TV broadcasts.

Advantages of DTV (Digital Television)

• Picture
  Picture realism adds to the television experience, and crisp digital pictures are one of the biggest advantages of digital television. Unlike analog TV, digital TV is free from snow, ghosts and interference. With HDTV, you get 4 to 5 times more picture information than conventional analog TV pictures. Combine that with the new widescreen format, and you have the ultimate home theater viewing experience.
  
  
• Sound
  Sound adds emotion to the television experience and DTV (Digital Television) is enhanced with CD-quality theater-like audio. The DTV signal may include audio in the 5.1 channel Dolby® Digital format - separate left and right front channels, left and right rear channels, center and LFE (Low Frequency Effects-subwoofer) channels.
  
  
• Multicasting and Datacasting
  "Over the air" DTV broadcasts carry huge amounts of digital information - more than 19 megabits per second. Because of this, your local broadcaster may choose to split their channel into two, three or more streams of programming to offer more choice and flexibility to the viewer.
  
  Multicasting allows your local broadcaster to transmit several standard-definition digital programs at the same time. For example, you may have the choice of a high-definition movie, a popular sitcom and a news program from a single local station!
  
  Datacasting links information from various sources, such as the Internet, to the television broadcast and allows the information to be displayed on-screen at the same time as a television program or delivered to your PC. You may then be able to get the latest stock quotes, access statistics on your favorite player during a football game, or order the product you just saw advertised right from your TV.
  
  
• Digital Video Formats
  The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) DTV standard adopted by the FCC in 1996 contains 18 defined scanning formats. They include interlaced and progressive scan HDTV and SDTV formats with varying frame rates, and two aspect ratios.
  
  
• Active Lines
  Scanning formats are measured in active lines of picture elements or pixels transmitted, both horizontal and vertical. The number of total pixels is calculated by multiplying the amount of vertical lines by the density of horizontal picture elements. For example, the 1920x1080 HDTV format has more than 2 million pixels. (1920 X 1080 = 2,073,600). Today's NTSC video only has a resolution of 211,200 pixels (480 vertical lines and 440 horizontal pixels).
  
  
• Aspect Ratio
  The aspect ratio refers to the shape of the video image. Today's television has a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is almost square in appearance. Digital television will have either a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio. A 16:9 aspect ratio is widescreen, and appears rectangular: this looks more like a movie screen, filling more of the viewer's field of vision for a more lifelike viewing experience.
  
  
• Scanning Method (interlaced vs. Progressive)
  Frames of video are made up of many lines of video that are scanned onto a television screen so closely they appear to be a solid picture. The scanning method can be either interlaced or progressive. Interlaced scanning (also used in today's analog TV), indicated by an "i" in the video format, fills in the odd number lines (1,3,5,7...) and then fills in the even number lines (2,4,6,8...) until the frame is complete. Progressive scanning, "P", fills in each line consecutively until the frame is complete, like a computer display.
  
  
• Frame Rate
  Frame rate, also known as picture rate, is the speed at which the lines are scanned in order to create a video frame, 60-, 30-, or 24-frames per second.
  

What is Digital TV (DTV) and how is HDTV related?

FACT! - "Over-the-air" Digital Television (DTV) is an entirely new way to view television. DTV is turbo-charged television, yielding clearer pictures, better sound, more programming and more viewing excitement than traditional analog television. From your local station, "over-the-air" DTV offers a picture free of "ghosts," "snow" and other interference. The crisper, shaper image is due to the increased number of picture elements (pixels) the digital signal puts on the screen - the higher the number, the sharper the picture…

DTV brings viewers three (3) video formats, each different in picture quality…

With DTV, SDTV (Standard Definition TV) picture resolution is better than today's analog (640 x 480 min. vs. 440 x 480 max.)-a noticeable improvement. The audio is digital, too, so the sound is of higher quality than on analog TV (like a CD compared to FM radio) and may even feature multiple channels of surround sound.

EDTV: Really getting good

With DTV, the next level of digital television is EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV). EDTV features a minimum of 480p scanning lines, for a more detailed picture than SDTV. You can see the difference. EDTV also can reproduce Dolby® Digital audio. EDTV provides DVD quality pictures and sound!

HDTV: the best you can get

HDTV has all the benefits of EDTV, but goes far beyond it in picture resolution and audio features. The HDTV specification requires a minimum of 1080i or 720p scanning lines, far higher than EDTV and about five times the resolution of analog TV! It's a level of detail that you've never seen before. The added benefit is 5.1 channel Dolby® Digital sound (movie theater quality sound), at home!

1080i and 720p

How do 1080i and 720p compare? 1080i actually has higher resolution than 720p, but doesn't render motion quite as well. 720p-with its progressive scanning-delivers smoother motion (especially important for fast-moving action, such as in sports) but has lower resolution than 1080i. Numbers don't always tell the whole story. (Don't worry; HDTV receivers can receive both formats, and HDTV televisions can display both formats.)

Free "over-the-air" DTV also enables local broadcasters to multicast, bringing viewers multiple sub-channels of over-the-air programming simultaneously in a variety of picture formats, SDTV, EDTV and HDTV TOGETHER! Because the signal is 'digital', the 'bits' can be divided-up to provide flexibility in program opportunities. Some of the programming on the air today makes use of "multicasting" to bring a wide variety of programs into your home. Here is an example of flexible multicast programming which can be brought to you throughout the day…

All of this…FREE "over-the-air"!

Do I have to buy a new DTV set today?

FACT! - Not necessarily. Today's NTSC analog televisions can be used if you purchase an "over-the-air" receiver with the right outputs (composite video, s-video, etc.)

DTV FAQ

If you want "true" HDTV, then the answer is yes, you MAY need to buy a digital set. While all of the TV industry is transitioning to DTV, there is a period of time that both FREE "over-the-air" analog (today's regular TV) and DTV will both be broadcast.

Every TV that you purchase today is digital capable and will work long into the future to provide the picture it was designed to produce. DTV receivers (set top boxes) that 'decode' DTV signals to provide 'analog' picture and sound for your current TV are available today for a nominal cost that will continue to drop in the very near future. (see above FAQ)

Free "over-the-air" DTV brings viewers five times the picture resolution and clarity of analog TV, making viewers feel like they are right in the middle of the action on their screens. "over-the-air" DTV uses binary code, the same system of ones and zeroes that runs on computers and digitally recorded compact discs. Switching TV broadcasts to digital is like switching from cassette tapes to compact disc or from VHS tape to DVD – the pictures are clearer, and sound is improved, giving viewers their favorite programs on a whole new level. In addition, with a 16:9 aspect ratio compared to today’s 4:3 aspect ratio of analog television, "over-the-air" DTV lets viewers see "the big picture" with much wider images.

What is HDTV?

FACT! -- HDTV, or "High Definition Television", is a much higher quality television broadcast system which delivers theatre-quality pictures and CD-quality sound. The HDTV picture contains 5 times more detail, or better resolution, than the best analog television pictures today. The result is picture and sound so life-like, that it's like being there.

HDTV can provide up to 5.1 channels of Dolby® Digital CD-quality surround sound, adding to the ultimate home theatre experience. All of this…FREE "over-the-air"!

How can I get "MY FREE HDTV"?

FACT! - FREE "over-the-air" HDTV television signals are being provided by many of your local television stations. Most of the "Prime Time" programming by your network stations is provided to your local TV station in HDTV. You need NOT pay for it by purchasing a monthly subscription from a Cable or Satellite provider. If your local station is broadcasting it in HDTV, all you need is a simple antenna (type defined by your location), an "over-the-air" HDTV receiver, and a monitor that will support the receivers HDTV output.

Your equipment needs will vary depending on what components you currently have, what you want to display, and how big your budget is. These simple diagrams can help you wire some of the more common configurations. Remember, to receive great looking TV, you don't have to do everything at once. You can build your system "step by step", and work within a reasonable budget.

Figure 1 - DTV using your Analog TV

Figure 2 - DTV using your Analog w/ Satellite or Cable

Figure 3 - DTV & HDTV

If you just have to have HDTV, when shopping for a new television, demand that your new television equipment has the capability of receiving FREE "over-the-air" HDTV!

Why are new HDTV televisions shaped differently?

FACT! - The newer HDTV television sets are more rectangular than traditional television sets. HDTV images are shown in a "wide-screen" format (commonly know as the 16x9 aspect ratio). The shape of the picture more closely resembles the shape of a movie screen, which enables the viewer to see the movie as the filmakers intended. In Sports, you can see more of the action in one camera shot, such as viewing the entire length of a football field without making look like it is a long distance away from the camera. A "wide Screen" (16x9) TV can display widescreen images without a large amount of picture space taken up by black bars on the top and bottom of a widescreen image, which is what you see if such images are shown on a standard TV. Bring the movie theatre experience right into your home! FREE "over-the-air" HDTV!

16x9 Explained

Are all television shows broadcast in HDTV?

FACT! - More and more shows are being broadcast in HDTV. Especially Sports and Network Primetime television show. As more and more people switch to HDTV the programming will continue to rise.

Here are just some of the shows available from the broadcast networks (subject to change):

	ABC Shows: 8 Simple Rules; According to Jim; Alias; George Lopez; Hope & Faith; Kingdom Hospital (summer only); Less than Perfect; Life with Bonnie (summer only); Married to the Kelly's (summer only); My Wife and Kids; NYPD Blue; The Practice: Fleet Street (fall); Desperate Housewives (fall); Life as We Know It (fall); Rodney (fall); Savages (fall); Blind Justice; Eyes; Grey's Anatomy; made-for-TV movies; theatrical films Sports and specials: 2004 Stanley Cup; 2004 NBA finals; Monday Night Football Resolution: 720p
	CBS Shows: Cold Case; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; CSI: Miami; Everybody Loves Raymond; JAG; Joan of Arcadia; Judging Amy; King of Queens; Navy NCIS; Still Standing; Two and a Half Men; Without a Trace; Listen Up (fall); Clubhouse (fall); Center of the Universe (fall); CSI: NY (fall); Dr. Vegas (fall); The Young and the Restless; made-for-TV movies; theatrical films Sports and specials: U.S. Open Tennis; The Masters Resolution: 1080i
	FOX Shows: Bernie Mac, "24", The O.C., Tru Calling, Malcolm in the Middle, Arrested Development, more TBA (announced plans to broadcast half of prime-time shows in HDTV by fall 2004) Sports and specials: NFL, NASCAR, Movies, others Resolution: 720p
	NBC Shows: include American Dreams; ER; Law & Order; Law & Order: Criminal Intent; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; Third Watch; The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; The West Wing; Come to Papa; made-for-TV movies; theatrical films Sports and specials: Triple Crown Resolution: 1080i
	PBS Shows: Highlights include American Family; Great Performances; Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks; A Thief of Time, An American Mystery! Special; Soundstage; and Nova Sports and specials: N/A Resolution: 1080i
	CW Shows: Everybody Hates Chris, All of Us, Girlfriends, The Game, America's Next Top Model, One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, Smallville, Supernatural, Friday Night Smackdown Sports and specials: N/A Resolution: 1080i
	MyTV Shows: Desire and Fashion House. Coming in December are Watch Over Me and Art Of Betrayal, followed by A Dangerous Love and Rules of Deception in March Sports and specials: N/A Resolution: 1080i

Is "MY FREE HDTV" better than "Digital Cable" or "Digital Satellite"?

FACT! - Yes! Free "over the air" HDTV images provided by your local TV station can be superior to pay services such as Digital Cable or Satellite. Not all of the 'digital information' is required to be carried by these pay services. Also, just because a show is viewed on one of the pay services or is 'digital' does not mean it is a HDTV signal. Most cable or satellite pay services do not yet carry your local HDTV digital channels. Just because it's digital doesn't mean it's HDTV. Many of your local television broadcasters can deliver a true HDTV picture that you can watch, and it's FREE "over-the-air"!

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