Why it's cool

You'll enjoy picture quality 2 to 3 times better than your current analog set with sharper images, richer colors and virtually no noise or ghosting.

People watching HDTV say it looks unbelievably real and three-dimensional — like looking out a window instead of looking at a picture.

Part of the HDTV standard is Dolby Digital® surround sound. Network specials, sports, and movies can all be delivered with cinema quality sound.

Every month more High Definition content is available from more sources. The widescreen format of HDTV is ideal for watching sports and movies.

What it does for you

HDTV sets use technology to effectively double the amount of picture information you see. So current video sources like cable, satellite, broadcast, and DVD all look at least twice as good as before.

The picture is sharper, more colorful, and very three-dimensional. Everything from sports to nature shows looks realistic and life-like.

Most HDTV sets come in the 16:9 widescreen format. Movies fill more of the screen and reduce or eliminate the 'grey side bars' you may have seen on your old TV.

How it works

HDTV is the highest form of Digital TV. Pictures are turned into digital information, like the way computers store images. The digital information can be compressed so huge amounts of information can be transmitted easily, making it possible to deliver very high-resolution images.

The digital information is transmitted to your home via antenna, satellite, or cable TV. Once received, it is converted back into pictures by a decoder built into your television or by a separate set-top-box.

Displaying high definition images requires a set with much higher resolution than an analog set. Though there will be converters so you can receive an HDTV signal and display it on your current set, the picture will not be nearly as good as true HDTV.