Thanks go out to d508dq for supplying this information.
What is Digital Television?
In Australia, 'Digital Television' usually refers to free-to-view digital over-the-air broadcasts, also known as DVB-T (Digital video broadcast on terrestrial channels).
Digital television offers sharper pictures, clearer sound, extra channels and program enhancements. Digital television is broadcast in widescreen (16:9) format, although some programs are in the old standard of 4:3. Most new Australian programs are produced in widescreen for digital broadcast.
ABC, SBS, Ten, Seven and Nine now transmit digital television services in all capital cities, 24 /7. Additional channels, including ABC2 and SBS World News are also available - see
http://www.dba.org.au/multichannel and for more info, see
http://www.dba.org.au
How can I get digital television?
Free-to-view digital television can be captured using the TV antenna on the roof (RF antenna) and (i) a set-top box, which decodes digital terrestrial TV transmissions into a form suitable for display on analog television sets, (ii) a TV with built-in digital receiver or Integrated digital television (IDTV) or (iii) a digital tuner card for the PC, such as the DVICO Fusion range, AverMedia DVB-T, Leadtek DVT, DigitalNow! DNTV, Twinhan DVT cards - amongst others.
Quality of signal can be a problem - especially in areas with poor reception or if the RF antenna is not well installed with good quality coaxial cable. There is more advice on this at
http://www.dba.org.au/reception.
What are SDTV and HDTV?
DVB-T is delivered in both Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) formats.
Standard Definition offers widescreen pictures and quality equivalent to that of DVD - significantly sharper than non-digital broadcasts. SD broadcasts are transmitted at all times.
High Definition offers even sharper pictures (up to 3 times the horizontal and twice the vertical resolution of SD), and 5.1 surround sound. HD broadcasts are available on fewer programs, but will become increasingly available. To see what's being broadcast in HD, go to
http://www.widescreentv.com.au. All HD programs are simultaneously broadcast in SD.
Broadcasters in QLD, NSW, VIC 'aggregated' markets, TAS, Darwin and Mildura are currently required to transmit at least 1040 hours of HD programs per year.
