Digital Television (DTV)

DTV “Any technology that uses digital techniques to provide advanced television services such as high-definition TV (HDTV), multiple standard definition TV (SDTV), and other advanced features and services.” --FCC, 1998

Over-The-Top Television (OTT) An increasingly popular means of accessing television and video content that is independent of traditional over-the-air (OTA) television and multichannel video programming distributors.  Hulu  Netflix  Internet Delivered Television (IDTV)

Mobile Phones and DTV

Explosion of Video 60 hours of video are uploaded every minute on YouTube. Over 4 billion videos are viewed each day

Two High-Definition Cameras Sony F65 CineAlta $65,000 Samsung HMX-W200 $110

Analog to Digital Global Movement No universal standard For consumer: drop in prices For provider: more investment Probably the most significant change in broadcast television since the introduction of color in the 1960’s.

Conversion in the United States December 31, 2006 was the deadline for conversion from analog to digital television broadcasting It couldn’t be met So George W. Bush extended it until February 17, It finally happened in June of 2009

Conversion Elsewhere Most developed countries will convert by 2015 Japan  A leader in the technology of DTV Europe  Should have been completed by 2012

HDTV Represents the highest pictorial and aural quality that can be transmitted through the air.

SDTV Standard Definition TV Can be transmitted along with or instead of HDTV 5 SDTV channels in the space of 1 HDTV channel  “Multicasting”  Often used during the day  Primetime uses HDTV

Pixels

What about the “I” and the “P”? Broadcast formats are described with the number signifying the number of scanning lines and a letter indicating where the lines are scanned in order (progressive) or with alternating odd and even lines (interlaced)  1080i  720p  Theoretically, the “p” will give a smoother image

DTV Formats FormatActive LinesPixelsAspectPicture Rate HDTV :960i,30p,24p HDTV :960p,30p,24p SDTV480704/64016:9 4:3 60i,60p,30p,24p

Progress of United States Stations 1998 – 24 stations 2002 – 1315 stations 2006 – 1698 stations 2009 – Almost all of them

Push and Pull Broadcast is a “push” technology  Sends signal/feed to millions of viewers at once IDTV is a “pull” technology  Viewer decides when to access a feed

Consumers 68% of U.S. homes have DTV Prices have come down dramatically Midsized TVs sold after March 1, 2006 must have a DTV tuner Plug-and-play standard eliminates need for set-top box

Display Types Direct-view CRT Plasma Display Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Digital Light Processing Projector Liquid Crystal on Silicon

Consumer Male years old $100,000 a year income

Things to Ponder Digital television will eventually replace analog transmission DTV cost is steadily getting lower DTV picture is either perfect or not there About 33% of households have HDTV sets as of Nov 2008 (double that of 2006)  Third of this third own more than one Manufacturers are the key

Factors Affecting Diffusion Battle over digital spectrum Diffusion of new digital technologies

Analog versus Digital Spectrum assigned to television can be “repacked” Analog is one “wave” and is susceptible to interference

Diffusion Battle Broadcasters need less spectrum  But they don’t want to give it up  Even for money  NAB has a campaign against giving up spectrum Government wants spectrum  Auction it off for billions of dollars

mDTV Mobile digital television  Growing…..

3D TV Passive  Uses polarized glasses Active  Uses battery glasses with liquid crystal lenses Cost/Content are inhibiting factors

What to Expect More advertising on OTT –TV venues Cutting the cable and tossing the dish Two-screen viewing  Watch TV with a cell phone in hand 3D – if price is right  Get rid of the glasses More convergence between television and computers and mobile devices

Digital Television (DTV)