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What is High Definition Television (HDTV)?
High Definition Television provides the ultimate in picture and sound quality. HDTV is a
digital television format, which combines high-resolution video and digital sound to create a movie theatre-quality TV viewing experience. HDTV
also requires the purchase of a separate television and receiver. Notable characteristics of HDTV are:
1. The Ultimate Picture Quality
- An HDTV image contains approximately 5 times as much picture information (picture elements or pixels) as displayed on a conventional TV.
- The net result is an image far superior to those available today.
2. A wider, movie-theater-like picture. The picture of an HDTV is wider using a 16:9 aspect ratio as opposed to the 4:3
aspect ratio standard we use today. This results in an image similar to that found in a movie theater.
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16:9 HDTV Image Shape

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4:3 NTSC Image Shape

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3. Better sound quality. The sound format adopted for HDTV is Dolby
Digital. CD-quality movie-theater-level Dolby Digital 5.1 sound can be achieved (when present in the soundtrack).
4. Available
today - Bell ExpressVu Model
6000 High Definition Receiver.
Up to 16 channels available and growing
with the addition of the new Nimiq
2 Satellite that is now active.
Currently
Bell ExpressVu offers 16 HDTV channels.
Already this year the company has
broadcast Super Bowl 2003, The 50th
NHL All Star Game, The Masters Golf
Tournament, Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge
and Over Canada, An Aerial Adventure
in HDTV format. In addition
to high definition broadcasts, the
Model 6000 will allow Bell ExpressVu
customers to enjoy the company's vast
digital programming line-up including
local, national and specialty channels
as well as Vu!, Bell ExpressVu's Pay-per-View
service with more than 55 channels
of movies, sports and entertainment.
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