This is the current NTSC standard for television broadcast transmissions.
Offers the ability to transmit four or more standard-quality programs (equivalent to NTSC) instead of HDTV programs, using the same channel. SDTV also incorporates stereo sound plus a wide range of data services. It displays picture and sound without noise, ghosts and interference.
Digitally transmitted SDTV includes 480 line resolution in both interlaced and progressively scanned formats. It offers significant improvement over today's conventional NTSC picture resolution, and is similar to DVD or DBS quality because the digital transmission eliminates snow and ghosts, which can be common with the current NTSC TV format. Also, thanks to digital compression technology, several programs can be transmitted simultaneously within the same channel.
Standard definition video format that has 4:3 aspect ratio. Generally refers to 480i. (See "480i" above.)
Digital formats that do not achieve the quality of HDTV, but are equal to or superior to an analog signal. SDTV signals may be broadcast in 4:3 or 16:9 formats and may or may not include Dolby Digital audio.
(SDTV) SDTV refers to DIGITAL transmissions with 480-line resolution, either interlaced or progressive scanned formats. SDTV offers significant improvement over today's conventional NTSC picture resolution, similar to comparing DVD quality to VHS, primarily because the digital transmission eliminates snow and ghosts, common with the current NTSC analog format. However, SDTV does not come close to HDTV in both visual and audio quality.
A digital television system that is similar to current standards in picture resolution and aspect ratio. The picture and sound will be clearer than NTSC. Offers the ability to transmit four or more standard-quality programs (equivalent to NTSC) instead of HDTV programs, using the same channel. SDTV also incorporates stereo sound plus a wide range of data services.
480i: Standard Definition NTSC signal - 480 lines, interlace scan with 4:3 aspect ratio. 576i: Standard Definition PAL signal - 576 lines, interlace scan with 4:3 aspect ratio.
