HDTV-what's going on?

The economic and signal environment into which high-definition television (HDTV) must fit is described, and the resulting technology requirements are examined. These include advanced signal processing, image processing, communications, and display technology. The two factors dictating these requirements are examined: the need for compatibility with existing National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) broadcasts and home receivers and the finite available broadcast spectrum. The discussion is focused on the video aspects of HDTV, but HDTV is generally expected to include improved audio, probably some form of compressed digital audio requiring a data rate no greater than 500 kb/s per stereo pair.<
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