A device that receives,

decodes, and displays digital

video broadcasts (in both
high-definition and standarddefinition formats) for
consumer viewing.

This process produces much clearer

picture and sound quality than analog
systems, similar to the difference
between a compact disc recording
(using digital technology) and an
audiotape or long-playing record.

Digital television uses

technology that records,
transmits, and decodes a signal
in digital formthat is, as a
series of ones and zeros.

It also permits additional

features to be embedded in
signals including program
and consumer information as
well as interactivities.

 consistent service quality

with improved immunity

from noise and near-errorfree, perfect picture and
sound propagation within
the range of performance

 lower operating costs through the use of

compression technology and improved system

reliability

 increased programme

diversity, the ability to

provide multiple
services in an existing
single broadcasting
service channel

 The main problem is resolution.

The resolution of the TV controls the crispness and

detail in the picture you see.

The resolution is determined by the number of pixels
on the screen.

Analog

Digital

 An analog TV has a 4:3 aspect ratio, meaning that the

screen is 4 units wide and 3 units high. For example, a

"25-inch diagonal" analog TV is 15 inches high and 20
inches wide.
The HD format for digital TV has a 16:9 aspect ratio, as
shown below:

 Each broadcaster has one digital TV channel, but one

channel can carry multiple sub-channels if the

broadcaster chooses that option
On its digital channel, each broadcaster sends a 19.39megabit-per-second (Mbps) stream of digital data.
Broadcasters have the ability to use this stream in
several different ways.
A broadcaster can send a single program at 19.39 Mbps.
A broadcaster can divide the channel into several
different streams (perhaps four streams of 4.85 Mbps
each). These streams are called sub-channels, and this
type of broadcasting is called multicasting.

There are three types of broadcast digital television (DTV),

each with progressively better picture and sound quality:

Standard-Definition TV (SDTV)
Enhanced-Definition TV (EDTV)
High-Definition TV (HDTV)

Digital technology is
being developed that
will offer sharper
pictures on wider
screens, and HDTV
with cinema-quality
images.

480i
480 lines by 704 pixels wide,
displayed in interlaced format.
It has a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio, 29.97Hz frame rate, as defined by the
ATSC standard.

Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC)

Committee established by the FCC to define new standards for
publicly regulated broadcast television in the United States

480p
High-definition television (HDTV)
image that is 480 vertical lines by
704 horizontal pixels displayed in
progressive format
It has a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio, 59.94
Hz, 29.97 Hz, and 23.98 Hz frame
rates, as defined by the ATSC
standard

High-definition video formats that have 16:9 aspect ratio.

Generally refers to 1080i or 720p images.
1080i
1,080 vertical lines by
1,920 horizontal
pixels wide, displayed
in an interlaced
format.

It has a 16:9 aspect

ratio, 29.97 Hz frame
rate,

720p
720 vertical lines by
1,280 horizontal pixels
wide, displayed in
progressive format.
It has a 16:9 aspect
ratio, 59.94 Hz, 29.97
Hz, and 23.98 Hz
frame rates,

 To compress the image for transmission, broadcasters use

MPEG-2 compression
MPEG-2 allows you to pick both the screen size and bit rate
when encoding the show. A broadcaster can choose a
variety of bit rates within any of the suggested resolutions.
If a station wants to broadcast a sporting event (where there
is lots of movement in the scene) at 1080i, the entire 19.39
megabits per second is needed to get a high-quality image.
On the other hand, a newscast showing a newscaster's head
can use a much lower bit rate. A broadcaster might transmit
the newscast at 480p resolution and a 3-Mbps bit rate,
leaving 16.39 Mbps of space for other sub-channels.

 ATSC Advanced Television Systems Committee

DVB-T Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial

ISDB-T - Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting -

Terrestrial

 ATSC is a set of standards developed by the Advanced

Television Systems Committee for digital television

transmission that replaced much of the analog NTSC
television system on June 12, 2009 in the United States
and will replace NTSC by August 31, 2011 in Canada
and December 31, 2021 in Mexico.

 Features
wide screen 16:9 images up to 19201080 pixels in size
supports a number of different display resolutions,

aspect ratios, and frame rates

different resolutions can operate in progressive scan or
interlaced mode
"theater quality" audio
depends on numerous interwoven standards

5.1 Audio Format

 DVB-T is an abbreviation for Digital Video

Broadcasting Terrestrial; it is the DVB Europeanbased consortium standard for the broadcast
transmission of digital terrestrial television that was
first broadcast in the UK in 1997.
This system transmits compressed digital audio, video
and other data in an MPEG transport stream.

 Features
designed with built-in flexibility
permits service flexibility
robust against interference from delayed signals

DVB-T compliant signals can also be carried over cables

it can accommodate a large range of carrier to noise ratio

and channel behavior

3/2 Stereo Format

 Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB) is

a Japanese standard for digital television (DTV) and

digital radio used by the country's radio and television
stations. ISDB replaced the previously used MUSE "Hivision" analogue HDTV system.
ISDB-T(terrestrial) has adopted the MPEG-2 video and
audio compression system.

 ISDB-T uses UHF 470 MHz-770 MHz, bandwidth of

300 MHz, allocate 50 channels, namely ch.13-ch.62,

each channel is 6 MHz width (actually 5.572 MHz
effective bandwidth and 430 kHz guard band between
channels).
ISDB-T allows to switch to two or three SDTV channels
instead of one HDTV channel (multiplexing SDTV
channels). Each channel is further divided into 13
segments. 1seg uses only single segment, and the
remainder can be allocated as (1) one 12-segments
HDTV program, (2) three 4-segments SDTV programs,
or (3) one 8-segments (Medium Definition) program
and one 4-segments SDTV program, broadcasted from
a single TV station as the multiple-program
arrangement

 Digital-ready sets - They should be identified as standard

definition (SDTV) sets. These TVs are normally 480p

displays with a digital tuner built in. The problem with
these sets is that their maximum resolution is the low 480p
SD resolution, so if you want to watch high-definition TV,
you won't be able to use these sets.
HDTV-ready sets - These sets are essentially monitors
able to display 1080i/p resolution in the 16:9 aspect ratio.
They may or may not have tuners built in.
Integrated HDTV sets - These sets have a digital tuner for
broadcast DTV signals integrated into an HDTV display.
With the standards changing so much, you may end up
paying for an integrated tuner that becomes obsolete.

 The preferred way to handle HDTV is to purchase the

components separately:
A 16:9 HDTV display capable of 720p and 1080i/p

resolution
A digital receiver
An antenna
Since the HDTV display will be the most expensive

piece and will likely last 10 years or more, buying the

components in this way allows you to change the
receiver if you need to. There are currently three types
of receivers: You can purchase a set-top box and a Yagi
antenna to receive broadcast HDTV signals.

 You can purchase a set-top box and a small satellite

dish to receive HDTV signals from a satellite.

You can purchase a board for your computer that lets
you use your hard disk as an HDTV storage device,
along with a Yagi antenna, and use it to receive signals
on both your computer monitor and your HDTV
display.

 A set-top box (STB) or set-top unit (STU) is a device

that connects to a television and an external source of

signal, turning the signal into content which is then
displayed on the television screen.
Special digital set-top boxes are

available for receiving digital television

broadcasts on TV sets that do not have a built in digital
tuner

Many flat panel TVs use liquid-crystal

display (LCD) screens that make use of a
special substance that changes properties
when a small electric current is applied to
it.
LCD technology has already been used
extensively in laptop computers.
LCD television screens are flat, use very
little electricity, and work well for small,
portable television sets.

Flat panel TVs made from gas-plasma

displays can be much larger.
In gas-plasma displays, a small electric
current stimulates an inert gas
sandwiched between glass panels,
including one coated with phosphors
that emit light in various colors.

While just 8 cm (3 in) thick, plasma

screens can be more than 150 cm (60
in) diagonally.

 Digital television transition in the Philippines started

its planning stage in 2006 after the National

Telecommunications Commission (NTC) have
released a memorandum on what DTV broadcast
standard to be used for the country
The commission has decided to have UHF TV
channels 14-51 at frequency spectrum 470-698
megahertz (Mhz) given over to digital broadcast.

 DTV switchover

Digital Pay-TV
High Definition Broadcast

 ABS-CBN has applied for the digital television-

terrestrial service (DTT) license to NTC , that will

switch off its analog broadcast channel (Channel 2
Manila) as early as 2010. ABS-CBN is currently
experimenting the transmission of digital signals on
Channel 51.
ABC 5 expressed their intention of switching their
current analog television broadcast set-up . They are
set to test digital TV broadcast DVB-H on Channel 47.

 GMA Network also plans to test DVB-H in Manila as

demand for content on mobile phones increases. Their

application to convert their UHF station for digital
broadcast service is still pending for approval from
NTC.
The NTC initially decided the Philippines will use and
adopt European standard DVB-T for terrestrial
transmissions.
After the shutdown of analog television (which is
scheduled in December 31, 2015), the European
standard for digital will replace the current standard
for analog television, NTSC.

 In November 2007, the NTC announced that it will

consider other standards for replacing DVB-T.

ISDB-T was already testing by government owned TV
stations and GEM-TV 49 of Iglesia ni Cristo.
Networks and organizations in favor of the DVB-T
standard are ABS-CBN, GMA Network, TV5 and the
Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas. On the
other hand, networks run by the government (NBN,
RPN and IBC) and owned by the Iglesia ni Cristo (Gem
TV) are in favor of the Japanese-based ISDB-T.

 Currently, several cable and satellite operators already

operate on a digital platform. Digital TV is received via

the use of a set-top box which is plugged into an
existing analog television set and a viewing card is
inserted into the box.
Advantages include an electronic program guide,
parental controls that will allow parents to block
inappropriate programs for kids and games.
SkyCable already offers digital cable with the use of its
DigiBox.
A PLDT subsidiary has launched Cignal Digital TV
which currently has 20 channels in standard definition
with the use of a satellite dish.

 Currently, high definition (HD) sets sold in the

Philippine market do not have a built-in digital TV

tuner to receive full HD programs via terrestrial.
Hence, connection to external equipment via an
HDMI lead as well as an appropriate cable/satellite
subscription package is required to receive HD
programs as they are being broadcast.

 The first locally produced television program in high

definition was the opening ceremonies of the 72nd

season of the UAAP.
Studio 23, a sister television network of ABS-CBN and
the broadcast partner of the collegiate league, however
aired the ceremonies on standard definition since the
NTC has yet to decide on what DTV standard to be
used for over-the-air broadcasts.
The HD broadcast of the opening ceremonies became
available only cable via SkyCable.