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As a producer of statewide and national programming for public television, we are in the middle of this massive change called Digital Television. Whether you realize it or not, so are you as a viewer! The basic idea behind your television set hasn't changed much in the past 50 years, but in the coming decade the idea of television as we know it will be turned on it's head. Viewers will have more choices of how and when they experience television in the digital world, since really what they will purchase is more of a computer than a television. You will be able to interact with their television and search for content as deeply as the producer allows and pull more programming "on-demand" from your TV. The melding of television with web technology to provide interactivity is being called Enhanced Television. Our Center has joined with Alabama Public Television and the Institute for Communication Research to study the impact enhanced television may have on Alabamians. And if you joke about having 100 channels with nothing on, just look into the digital television future. Instead of one analog signal, broadcasters have the option of splitting their digital signal into four to six video streams. This is called Multicasting and it's a result of working in the digital domain and compressing bits in the transmission. Even with compression, those programs will look and sound much better than your present television.
Today, there are indications broadcasters will finally begin rolling-out substantial HDTV programming - primarily motion pictures and sports programming. HDTV takes up most of the bits in the digital pipeline, so it will be used judiciously by programmers. Our facility is one of the first in the South to begin producing high-definition documentary programming for public television. We believe the incredible imagery of high definition serves us well as we try to tell interesting stories about Alabama and the South. From a consumer standpoint, you will not have to replace your television anytime soon. In fact, it appears digital set-top boxes, which convert your NTSC analog television into a digital television will become the norm. Still, if you want all the benefits of digital and high definition, you will have to invest in a true HDTV television. You may want to wait a year or two, though, since prices will fall and the quality of HD sets will improve. It's my guess (and everyone has one) that by Christmas, 2002 digital televisions will be the hot consumer item. By then, High Definition versions of digital television will start at under $1,500. Smaller digital wide-screen televisions (not true HD) will be available for less than $1,000. Intel and PBS will be marketing enhanced version remote controls that allow you to access web materials and other resources while watching television. The second generation HDTV's will look even more incredible and production facilities like our Center will be producing nearly every program in wide screen -- some in HDTV. Again, one persons prediction. So, that's a taste of our digital future. What do you think? If you have any questions or have comments about HDTV and DTV, please send me a note. And please check out the DTV FAQ and our favorite DTV links. Thanks, Tom Rieland, Director
For more information: info@cpt.ua.edu |
And then there is
High Definition Television (HDTV), which is a form of
widescreen digital television. It was the quest for HDTV that drove broadcasters to lobby
for the spectrum now used for digital television. That spectrum was nearly auctioned off
to cellular and radiophone interests before broadcasters howled that they needed it for
HDTV.