Top Telly - Technical details for High Definition television

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What is High Definition television?

What is HD?

High Definition gives us clear, crisp pictures with vivid colours and up to five times more detail than a standard television picture. The increased detail results from an increase of up to five times as many pixels in each transmitted picture. This improvement is most readily seen on flat-panel displays I.e. Either LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or plasma.

HD television receivers have to be capable of displaying pictures containing 720 or 1080 lines as apposed to the 625 lines used in a standard picture. There is a marginal improvement on pictures displayed using older TV sets with 625 lines. The BBC has opted for the best system available and transmits in the 1080 line format.

The BBC is making more and more programmes in HD but not all of its popular output is available yet. Some programmes are also broadcast with surround sound that is provided by adding additional audio streams. Most BBC HD programmes are subtitled and some have audio description.

The BBC also broadcasts outside broadcasts in HD. Recent examples are the Wimbledon tennis coverage and the Electric Proms.

The BBC provides its services in HD with no additional charge. Freeview will provide HD services at some point in 2010.

ITV provides HD services through Freesat where The Bill, Lewis and Law & Order have been broadcast in HD. They also have broadcast UEFA football and the Cup Final in high definition.

Effects of HD on production

The BBC is having to invest in new sets because HD TV is five times sharper than standard TV and shows up the short-comings in existing sets. On the list are the Queen Vic pub from Eastenders, the boardroom in The Apprentice and the Dragon’s Den loft. The Apprentice set makes use of 60 perspex sheets that cost £300 each. These “glass” partitions will show up dust, fingerprints and smears and are to be replaced. Cath Pater-Lancucki says: “I think we’d need to have a props man on set the whole time polishing surfaces.” Actors will also be aware that not only will all their “laughter lines” be apparent but also beads of sweat, badly-glued moustaches and uneven stitching all become very noticeable in HD.

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