As long as you don't also see the HDTV picture on an HDTV television, you won't feel any of the advantages. HDTV can only exploit all of its advantages on the right screen, namely richer colours, better depth of field, more brilliance and incomparably better picture sharpness. HDTV isn't so much a boob tube, it's almost cinema.

It starts with the cinematic 16:9image format, i.e. the long rectangle that you know from the cinema. In Germany, 16:9 has not yet really caught on because most programs are still broadcast in 4:3 format. However, 16:9 is more suited to natural vision, and HDTV will no longer have 4:3.

The new HDTV cameras also make recordings much better.

But what does that mean for us viewers?

For viewers, HDTV means they have to buy a new television set. Once HDTV is introduced, it will certainly be able to hold a traditional PALSignal received, but for the brilliant HDTV enjoyment he needs an HDTV television - and, depending on the size of the television, a large living room. Because with HDTV, screen diagonals of one and a half meters or more are no longer a problem.

When is HDTV coming?

Experts do not expect HDTV to be introduced before 2008.
In the USA, HDTV and the conventional format (which is used in the USA NTSC means) sent. In Europe, on the other hand, there is no such hurry, because in the USA there is a confusing variety of HDTV formats, which makes it difficult for viewers to buy the right set. The manufacturers in Europe must therefore first agree on a uniform format for production, transmission and reception before they can think of introducing it.

In addition, HDTV televisions are still somewhat expensive today. However, you can get an HD-Ready for "only" 1.300 euros Plasma-Get TV. Of course, there are hardly any upper limits to the whole thing.

There are still technical problems. The satellite operator Astra, for example, is already broadcasting an HDTV demonstration program. This is more likely to deter TV viewers, however, because it doesn't show HDTV in all its glory. Rather, there seem to be problems with the much larger amounts of data compared to PAL, because the alleged HDTV picture is full of disturbing pixels and the sound can sometimes be heard Ton out of sync with the picture.

The first major event to be produced entirely in HDTV (but essentially broadcast in PAL) is the 2006 World Cup.

Record HDTV?

With HDTV broadcasts, the TV station broadcasts a control signal with the film that controls the analog outputs on the HDTVReceiver releases or blocks. In the event of a blockage - which can be assumed for most feature films - HDTV can only be viewed via the HDCP-Protected digital outputs HDMI or DVI issued. DVDrecorders or hard disk recorders with HDMI or DVI input will not be available until further notice. HDTV receivers with a hard disk are also currently not in sight - unless the hard disk can only be used for SDTV programs or for HD programs with a release signal for the analogue outputs. It will no longer be possible to record HDTV broadcasts, as we have known from SDTV up to now.

However, Hollywood bosses and the industry have not banned the topic of recording completely and forever. In the case of HDTV broadcasts, this should already be known DRM (Digital Rights Management) are increasingly used. Using the control signals possible within the framework of DRM, the rights holder determines whether recordings are possible – and if so, how many – or whether only one-time archiving is possible. DRM can also be used to specify the period of time (approximately within a week after recording) or how often the recorded program can be played. It would also be possible for a program to lie dormant on a DVD or hard drive for an unlimited period of time and only then be activated for viewing using a code that the customer has to purchase. According to the plans of the software industry, this is what the digital future of HDTV will look like. However, it is already forming Resistance against this degree of paternalism: According to a non-representative reader survey carried out by the specialist magazine SAT+KABEL, a majority of respondents reject HDTV in its current form, which is linked to HDCP.

Transmission standards for HDTV are: MPEG 4 (MPEG2), H.264/AVC and DVB-S2.

And finally ...

In 2005, HDTV will be within reach for us Germans for the first time. The 2004 Athens Olympics were already recorded and broadcast in HDTV (720p) for large parts of the world. The Japanese – world champions when it comes to HDTV applications – have already announced that they will only accept HDTV recordings from the 2006 World Cup. i.e. without HDTV technology in Germany, even the marketing of the soccer World Cup would be significantly impaired. It would be a joke if the 2006 World Cup was recorded by Germans in HDTV, except in Africa it could be seen on HDTV worldwide and only we in Germany would be excluded from HDTV enjoyment. Such a development would be typical of toll collect and can deposit, but it will probably not happen in this way. In fact, almost all the relevant industry observers expect that we can look forward to a whole range of interesting programs in HDTV quality over the next 1-3 years. Appropriate announcements have even been heard from Premiere. According to market observers, the most likely scenario is that the public and large private broadcasters will broadcast individual programs in HDTV quality in addition to the standard format, be it in 720p or 1080i format. There will probably not be any more pure HDTV channels any time soon. However, the announcements of HDTV programs on "normal television" will certainly ensure that the topic of HDTV moves more and more into the focus of viewers. With corresponding demand from end users, great interest from the equipment industry in this new market and a certain amount of pressure on the broadcasters due to international developments, a causal chain will develop at the end of which everyone will be able to receive real HDTV by 2006 at the latest - in full of quality.

The only thing you should consider today: If you have a plasma television or LCDTV, then you should pay attention to two things: 1. The highest possible resolution of the panel (significantly more than 480 lines vertically) and 2. HDTV capability of the control electronics (50 Hz refresh rate). Then you won't have to worry about missing out on a technical trend for quite some time.