Frequently Asked Questions -- What Is Digital TV?

— -- Television. The signals are a-changin'. The Federal Communication Commission has mandated that by 2006, every television network in the U.S. is expected to broadcast in the new digital television format. Here's what you need to know.

What is Digital Television?

Since its development more than 50 years ago, television broadcasts have traveled through the air using analog radio waves. Digital Television, or DTV, is a new broadcast method where the signals are encoded in the same 1s and 0s (or, binary code) used by computers, CD and DVD players.

What are the advantages of DTV?

Switching from an analog standard to a digital one offers many improvements for both consumers and the broadcast industry.

The most noticeable difference, at least for consumers, is a much improved image quality. Unlike analog signals, DTV signals are more resistant to the radio interference that result in static-filled or snowy videos or "ghost" images. Likewise, audio quality improves to crystal-clear stereo sound similar to that delivered from an audio CD.

Another advantage: DTV allows broadcasters to offer more than just audio and video. The amount of space, or bandwidth, given to each TV station allows for multiple "channels" of service. This "multicasting" means that a network could broadcast data — say a stock ticker, or e-mail — tied to the particular TV show.

Is ‘HDTV’ the same as ‘DTV?’

HDTV, or high-definition television, is a part of DTV since those signals are digital too.

The difference is that HDTV offers higher-resolution — in other words, even sharper images — than DTV. And because of its superior picture, much of the focus among broadcasters and consumer electronics makers has been on HDTV.

But even lower-resolution DTV offers a much improved visual experience over today's analog TV signals. The comparison, many say, is similar to watching a DVD as opposed to watching a videotape.

Is ‘Digital Cable’ or ‘Digital Satellite’ the same as DTV?