HDTV Broadcast Quality – What are you really watching?
Ever wonder why one HD channel looks so much better than another HD channel? Well, basically its because they are operation at different bitrates. One channel may be pumping in a 720p signal at 12 Mbps and another might be pushing a 1080i signal at 7 Mbps. So your 720p channel is probably going to look better with less artifacting and more overall pop.
According to ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) president Mark Richer, the ATSC standard does not require minimum bit rates for over-the-air broadcasters. It’s pretty amazing that there is no enforced standard for HD broadcast quality. Basically the bottom line right now is you have to offer a minimum 480i signal which typically comes in at 4 to 6 Mbps. ( The max each 6 megahertz channel can handle is 19.3 Mbps) Seems like there is a lot of space that they could use to increase the quality.
Here is a great article from Popular Mechanics on the details.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4275063.html?page=2
Technorati Tags: HDTV, Broadcast, HD, Cable, Satellite, Bitrate, ATSC, 1080i, 720p
