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Ever go to the cinema and as you are watching the movie and eating popcorn wish you could replicate your enjoyable experience at home? Well the good news is you can with a widescreen HDTV. In a nutshell, HDTV is a widescreen wonder for television’s greatest supporters, not to mention it has true movie quality brought to life.

In order to consider the value of a widescreen HDTV one must look at the screen aspect ratio. A screen aspect ratio is a measurement of the television screen’s horizontal length (or width) and vertical height as well as the relationship that exists between the two. A conventional television screen is a tad bit wider than it is long, as it is basically 4 units wide by 3 units tall (written as 4:3 or “4-by-3”). A quick glance at your own television set should make this very obvious.

On the other hand a widescreen HDTV boasts much more of a rectangular size and has a screen aspect ratio of 16:9 which means that the television is 16 units long for every 9 units it represents in height (giving it another name as well, a 16×9 television). This gives rise to a television with a much wider image than on a standard 4:3 set. Both television programs that are filmed in widescreen format as well as major motion pictures that are also filmed in the same manner can be displayed much more realistically but with very clear, smoother images.

As HDTV becomes more and more popular with the viewing public the advantages of purchasing a widescreen (or 16×9) television that imitates a screen in a movie cinema becomes evident. Coupled with this are the other advancements in the home entertainment world such as the move to make all broadcasting DTV/HDTV and the soon-to-be introduced onto the market, Blu-ray and HD-DVD (facets of high-definition DVD technology). Widescreen televisions are not only becoming the “in” thing, but they are also becoming the “practical” thing.

Watching a movie on a videotape can be an eye opening experience on a widescreen TV but lots of regular programming can also have the same effect. A perfect example of this is viewing sporting events, such as football, baseball, soccer or hockey. The reason for this is simple- on a standard 4:3 television set viewers are used to shots that are wide but distant, but on a widescreen 16×9 the entire field the team is playing on can be watched in one big wide shot with the shot being at an up close and personal vantage point. It is definitely a treat for the eyes to view an event you enjoy and feel as if you are really there in the bleachers cheering your team on.

Two channels that have incorporated a lot of widescreen television programming include the Discovery channel and PBS which feature a number of historical, science and/or educational programs. More and more movies shown on television or made for television are being broadcast in the widescreen format. The widescreen format of broadcasting is being utilized for a variety of different television series’ as well. Examples of this include Angel, Babylon5, Enterprise, ER, Smallville and Stargate SG1. You don’t have to currently subscribe to HDTV to receive some programs that are broadcast in non-HD versions of HDTV. An example of this is The Sopranos. Most television guides will list whether or not shows are broadcast in a widescreen format or not. Another name for widescreen format is “letterbox format.”

Plenty of consumers are still watching 4:3 television sets that feature programs in a widescreen format. This also can be said for DVD watching as well. This presents a challenge for the viewer. When watching widescreen HDTV programs on a conventional television set, both the top and bottom of the screen there are black bars visible. This is referred to as “letterboxing” (or letterbox format as previously mentioned). Individuals who do not understand this concept completely often feel that the widescreen format is failing them or it is not as worthwhile or as thrilling to watch as they had expected it would be. However in reality this is not the case at all.

The majority of films that came out after the year 1953, and also most since that time, are filmed in a variety of different widescreen film formats. There are a number of these but the most commonly used ones include Cinemascope, Panavision, Cinerama, Technirama and Vista-Vision. In order for it to be possible to view a widescreen film on a 4:3 television set, moviemakers must meticulously take the time to re-edit the film in what is called a Pan-and-Scan format in order to retain as much of the original images from the film as they can. When you see the message “This film has been formatted to fit your television screen” before the start of a movie it is this process of re-editing that is being referred to.

HDTV (high-definition television) programming options have increased over time as more and more people are discovering the advantages in sound and picture quality. The very first television station to broadcast HDTV in the United States was WRAL-HD located in Raleigh, North Carolina. HDTV is available in most areas of the U.S. today as 1,300 local television stations broadcast HD signals over-the-air. To put another way that means that an estimated 98-99 percent of American households are in range to receive signals from at least one station that broadcasts HDTV.

If you are a subscriber to digital cable and you live in one of the 100 major markets for cable then it is extremely likely that your local cable company offers one, if not many, HDTV channels. Keep in mind that if you are an analog subscriber then it will be necessary for you to upgrade your cable service to digital in order to receive HDTV programming. Living in a rural area should not prevent you from receiving all of the advantages that go along with HDTV service. Those living in a more remote area can still access HDTV by way of one out of two possible satellite providers, those being DirecTV and Dish Network.

A nationwide deadline has been set forth by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) for all television stations to cease broadcasting over-the-air VHF/UHF signals (or analog) by the first of January 2007, or to stop doing so once an estimated 85 percent of households in the United States have a television with a digital tuner for receiving HDTV. Whichever one of these things takes place first will determine when analog signals are to fade into the past.

Not everyone believes that choosing a random date such as January 1, 2007 is a realistic goal and those who legislate have put forth the suggestion that the move from analog to HDTV signals should not be so swift or aggressive and it should be pushed back two years. If this proposal were accepted that means that December 31, 2008 would be the official end date for all analog television broadcasts in the United States. The FCC has its reasons for choosing a specific deadline, those being that they want to make way for new technologies of the wireless kind to take over from the old analog way of transmitting broadcasts. Important to note is that this proposed deadline, whether it be the first of 2007 or the end of 2008 will in no way cause problems with cable or satellite service but will instead only affect over-the-air antenna (or terrestrial) broadcasts.

The appeal of HDTV programming has swept the American television market. A number of the major television networks in the United States including ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS and WB are broadcasting an array of their regularly scheduled programs in HDTV. Another station to present HDTV is UPN although at present the programming in this manner is minimal. As of autumn 2004, FOX chose to join the lead of the other stations by starting to broadcast their programs in 720p (one of the many formats used in HDTV), as opposed to what they had done in the past which was programming in 480p of standard digital television.

HDTV is able to be broadcast in a variety of different screen aspect ratios, scan modes (interlaced and progressive) as well as vertical resolutions. These formats include 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 720i, 480p, and 480i. The most commonly used of these formats include 480p, 720p, 480i and 1080i.

Other American channels are also catching on to the advantages of HDTV. Some of these include popular channels such as Discovery, ESPN, HBO, Hdnet, FOX Sports, Showtime and TNT. Cable systems are tuning into HDTV as well. Many systems throughout the United States including Comcast, COX, Cablevision and Time Warner are providing cable service to their customers.

In order to take advantage of all of the benefits of HDTV programming, whether it takes the form of broadcast, cable or satellite, the proper equipment, an HD-antenna, an HD-satellite box, an HD-cable box or an HD-set-top box is needed as is a television set that is an integrated HDTV or can be upgradeable (much like a computer can be upgraded) to receive HDTV signals. These kinds of televisions go by a variety of different names, those being HD-compatible, HD-ready or HD-upgradeable.

To tune in or tune out to HDTV, that is the question. All of the major television networks in the United States including ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and WB are broadcasting a number of their regularly scheduled programs in HDTV. Jumping on the bandwagon is UPN although their programming in HDTV is very limited. In the fall of 2004 FOX joined the other channels by broadcasting in 720p (one of the formats used in HDTV), as opposed to what they had done in the past which was programming in 480p or standard definition digital TV.

Other channels are also catching on to the appeal of HDTV. Some of these include popular channels Discovery, ESPN, HBO, FOX Sports, Showtime and TNT. Cable systems are tuning into HDTV as well. Many systems throughout the United States including Comcast, COX, Cablevision and Time Warner are providing cable service to their customers. DirecTV and Dish Network, the two main service providers of satellite television in the U.S. have decided to switch to HDTV as well. More and more broadcasters are choosing to tune in to HDTV and all of its benefits as opposed to tuning out.

HDTV however does have its down side. Gaining access to what is available on HDTV is not always an easy feat for the average television watcher. High-definition television is still not accessible for everyone to watch and many smaller stations cannot yet afford the cost of broadcasting its programs in this manner. For example, many local HDTV broadcasts only become available over-the-air if you have an antenna but some cable companies don’t have the resources to guarantee that all of the HDTV signals come through the television. For that reason many viewers are losing out. To use another example, most HDTV programming is available through satellite in the form of movie and sports channels. But local and/or network programming often suffers as it is broadcast less seldom in this manner. None of this is good news for television enthusiasts.

Price is often a factor in whether consumers can tune in or out to HDTV. Many cable companies price their HDTV service well out of range for the average low to middle income earner. While some companies opt to offer the very basic HDTV services with no extra charge whatsoever, a great majority charge more for the privilege of watching HDTV. Some cable companies choose to offer to their customers local and movie channels in a type of HDTV tier but there is an added cost for this. Even worse some companies take this a step further and charge their customers even more money for channels such as Discovery-HD for instance and ESPN-HD.

Another issue involved in the decision of whether or not to tune into HDTV is what exactly is required to be able to make use of HDTV. Let’s take a closer look at this important issue.

To break it down into its basic components, three things are needed in order to watch HDTV. They are a source of HDTV programming, whether it takes the form of Broadcast, Cable or Satellite; the proper apparatus, i.e. an HD-antenna, an HD-satellite box, an HD-cable box or an HD-set-top box, and lastly, a television set that is an integrated HDTV or is HD-upgradeable (also known as HD-compatible or HD-ready).

First of all before embarking on an HDTV adventure, make sure that HDTV service is actually available in your area. If it’s not, then it is a moot point to go any further. If your service area does have HDTV programming then you need to find out what you require in terms of an antenna, in order to be able to receive signals from HDTV. To use an example, if HDTV service in your area is broadcast over-the-air but your local cable or satellite service has nothing to do with the signals then it will be necessary for you to buy a HDTV-antenna in order for the HDTV signals to be passed through into your television. Finally the kind of television you invest in is of utmost importance. An integrated HDTV comes equipped with an HDTV tuner installed in it. This means no extra money must be put out to purchase an external box to receive signals. On the other hand, an HD-upgradeable television makes it necessary for you to add what is known as a set-top box to your television set in order to receive HDTV programming. This will involve an added cost to you and the prices for the box do vary from place to place.