How do I get my TV shows in high-def?
Anyone who has experienced an HDTV playing high-def content knows how amazing it looks. But standard-definition content (such as cable, satellite, or broadcast TV–NTSC) doesn’t take advantage of HDTV’s full potential–it’s displayed at a lower resolution of 480 lines of resolution and uses a 4:3 (non-widescreen) aspect ratio.
Before taking your HDTV back and demanding a refund, you need to understand that a high-def source is necessary to match the crystal-clear video and theater-quality audio you saw in the showroom. For an additional fee, your cable or satellite provider offers high-def programming from select networks including Discovery, ESPN, and HBO, with more being added. A new set-top box also may be required to deliver high-def content to your HDTV. Your local television stations may also send out high-def (ATSC) signals over the air. To receive them, you’ll need an HDTV with a built-in tuner and an high-def antenna.