HDTV Network Resolutions

[Denny Crane]

Not all HD content is equal. If you've seen movies on blu ray, you know they look the best of anything...

I came across this list of broadcast networks and what resolution they broadcast in:

Networks
ABC - 720p
CBS - 1080i
Fox - 720p
NBC - 1080i
The CW - 1080i
My Network TV - 720p
PBS - 1080i

Cable
USA - 1080i
ESPN - 720p
Disney - 720p
Fox News - 720p
ABC Family - 720p
TBS - 1080i
Hallmark Channel - 1080i
TNT - 1080i
Lifetime - 1080i
Nickelodian - 1080i

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/network_hd_720p_vs_1080i/

 

[CelticKing]

Why all aren't doing 1080i?

 

[Denny Crane]

ABC and ESPN and Disney are all owned by the same company. They likely chose 720p because it's best suited for sports. CBS has high quality programming, like CSI, that benefit from 1080i.

That'd be my guess.

 

[CelticKing]

ABC and ESPN and Disney are all owned by the same company. They likely chose 720p because it's best suited for sports. CBS has high quality programming, like CSI, that benefit from 1080i.

That'd be my guess.

Interesting, I thought 1080i was the best version out of the two.

How long till every channel becomes HD?

 

[Denny Crane]

Interesting, I thought 1080i was the best version out of the two.

How long till every channel becomes HD?

1080i is superior. it's 1920x1080 pixel resolution, while 720p is 1280x720 but sets are typically 1360x768. A 1080 resolution picture can be scaled down (like shrinking a pic in photoshop) to fit on the 1360x768 screen.

I've always read that 720p is the preferred format for sports, because of all the moving backgrounds; it compresses better.

 

[MKIV_Supra]

I always believed 720p was better than 1080i. Why? I have no idea.

 

[Denny Crane]

I always believed 720p was better than 1080i. Why? I have no idea.

It depends on the screen size and how far away you sit. 1080i simply has more information, more pixels, than 720p. More pixels means less jaggies in diagonal lines in the picture (like a shirt collar).

 

[MKIV_Supra]

It depends on the screen size and how far away you sit. 1080i simply has more information, more pixels, than 720p.

But for 1080i, isn't it basically 1080 interlaced lines or 540 in a sense? I just don't like how consumers are being suckered into buying an HDTV because it supports higher resolutions when they should be doing more research. IIRC, the typical person can hardly tell the difference between the two.

 

[Denny Crane]

But for 1080i, isn't it basically 1080 interlaced lines or 540 in a sense? I just don't like how consumers are being suckered into buying an HDTV because it supports higher resolutions when they should be doing more research. IIRC, the typical person can hardly tell the difference between the two.

Unless you're watching it on a CRT tube, 1080i is deinterlaced and displayed on an LCD or Plasma screen as if it were 1080p. Both 1080p and 1080i are 60Hz.

 

[CelticKing]

today comcast in our area added like seems 40 channels more in HD, all of hbo, starz, showtime, etc, nbatv, and a bunch others. god I love watching tv in hd, so clear.