Why Are We Switching to DTV?
The short answer is: It’s better. The medium answer is: It’s like the music industry. Remember how sound quality improved as the music industry went from the 8-track to the cassette to the CD to digital files? TV’s distribution is due for an upgrade and will result in improved picture and sound quality. The long answer is: There is a spectrum of signals available for companies to distribute information. The various signals in the spectrum have different levels of capacity. The digital signal can accommodate more programming of a higher technical quality than the analog signal can. Currently many entities use different parts of the spectrum. Public safety communications (think police squads, fire departments, and rescue teams) use part of the spectrum. Wireless devices (from radios to smart phones) use part of the spectrum. Broadcasters also use part of the spectrum. Switching to all-digital broadcasting will free up valuable parts of the spectrum. The extra spectrum can be marked for p
An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced wireless services (such as wireless broadband). Consumers also benefit because digital broadcasting allows stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, and digital is much more efficient than analog. For example, rather than being limited to providing one analog program, a broadcaster is able to offer a super sharp “high definition” (HD) digital program or multiple “standard definition” (SD) digital programs simultaneously through a process called “multicasting.” Multicasting allows broadcast stations to offer several channels of digital programming at the same time, using the same amount of spectrum required for one analog program.
DTV is a more flexible and efficient technology than the current analog system. For example, rather than being limited to providing one “analog” programming channel, a broadcaster will be able to provide a super sharp “high definition” (HDTV) program or multiple “standard definition” DTV programs simultaneously. Providing several program streams on one broadcast channel is called “multicasting.” The number of programs a station can send on one digital channel depends on the level of picture detail, also known as “resolution,” desired in each programming stream. DTV can provide interactive video and data services that are not possible with “analog” technology.
DTV is a more flexible and efficient technology than the current analog system. For example, rather than being limited to providing one analog programming channel, a broadcaster will be able to provide a super sharp high definition (HDTV) program or multiple standard definition DTV programs simultaneously. Providing several program streams on one broadcast channel is called multicasting. The number of programs a station can send on one digital channel depends on the level of picture detail, also known as resolution, desired in each programming stream. DTV can provide interactive video and data services that are not possible with analog technology. Converting to DTV will also free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast airwaves. Those portions of the airwaves can then be used for other important services, such as advanced wireless and public safety services (for example, police, fire departments, and rescue squads).
DTV is a more flexible and efficient technology than the current analog system. For example, rather than being limited to providing one “analog” programming channel, a broadcaster will be able to provide a super sharp “high definition” (HDTV) program or multiple “standard definition” DTV programs simultaneously. Providing several program streams on one broadcast channel is called “multicasting.” The number of programs a station can send on one digital channel depends on the level of picture detail, also known as “resolution,” desired in each programming stream. DTV can provide interactive video and data services that are not possible with “analog” technology. Converting to DTV will also free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast airwaves. Those portions of the airwaves can then be used for other important services, such as advanced wireless and public safety services (for example, police, fire departments, and rescue squads).
