Increased Availability of HDTV Broadcasts
The amount of HDTV programming is increasing rapidly, with HDTV broadcast, cable, and satellite service increasing in availability across the country. Also, the audio that is supplied with HDTV video is in surround sound, which takes further advantage of your surround sound receiver.
The Progressive Scan Factor
Another twist in the setup is that even though DVD is not a high resolution format, HDTVs can display what is referred to as a progressive scan signal. This enables you to get the most out of your DVD player (most players can output progressive scan which gives the viewer a smoother film-like image when shown on a progressive-scan capable television).
DVD Upscaling
In addition, there are a growing number of DVD players that have HD-upscaling capability, which takes further advantage of high definition capabilities of HD-compatible televisions.
The Blu-ray and HD-DVD Factor
Lastly, true high definition DVD, in the form of Blu-ray and HD-DVD is finally here, which will take full advantage of the capabilities of HDTV, superceding the capabilities, which respect to image detail, of current DVD technology, especially when viewing on large LCD, Plasma, or projection screens. For more information on how Blu-ray and HD-DVD can benefit your HDTV and Home Theater experience, check out my Blu-ray and HD-DVD FAQs and my supplmentary article, Before You Buy a Blu-ray or HD-DVD Player.
For a more detailed explanation of HDTV, and how it can factor into your current and future television viewing, refer to my HDTV FAQs
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