What is the maximum HDTV resolution available over the air?

Question

I have read that 720p is the most broadcasters can put out with the band width allocated to them by the FCC. But I've seen Fox Sports advertise broadcasts in 1080p. Is either 1080p or 1080i available over the air?

Answer 1

720p..sometimes 1080i, but 720p is the most commonly broadcasted HD resolution....

although I heard Direct TV will soon broadcast some programs in full 1080p....but that might just be a rumor

Answer 2

Right now, I think 1080i is the max resolution that broadcasters are broadcasting. I think you can only get 1080p content from Blu-Ray, gaming consoles, and HD devices. Regular programming lacks 1080p transmission.

If you are asking this because you are trying to decide what type of TV you should get, I have given the below answer to a few people looking at TV's

Two brands are Samsung and Sony. If you are really looking for Sony to match or overcome Samsung's quality, then you may want to get something in the bravia series and make sure it has XBR, because I believe that allows cinematic quality.

A very impressive chip used by HDTV's developed by Texas Instruments is the DLP chip, which provides awesome quality when it comes to reduced motion blur (for you football game) and has great quality. The DLP chip works greatly with the colors it gets and is especially better when you have LED, which uses more environmentally friendly, lasts longer, and gives the best color you can imagine. You can read moer about DLP and its different technologies on http://www.dlp.com (if it is up, because Texas Instruments seems to have a problem with its sites).

Samsung uses the DLP chip. By the way, you can go to cnet.com and search your specific type of TV (use the model number) and it will give you a very detailed review on your TV. That is how I got my awesome Samsung HLT-5087S. CNet goes into detail and gives specifications. It also has a TV search tool in which you can plug in what you want on your TV.

Now to tackle a big issue. 1080p, 1080i, or 720p? Well, I have a 1080p TV, which will give you the best quality with HD transmission, especially if you have Blu-Ray. But, a 1080p may not do too well with regular transmission channels, although I have seen normal channels on my 1080p TV and have no problem with them. A 1080i TV is not too competitive anymore because a 1080p has the same resolution as a 1080i, and it can much more easily manage movement than a 1080i. A 720p TV may be better if you are only going to watch channels on normal transmission.

When you get a TV, you may also want to be sure that you get at least 2 HDMI inputs on your TV, because as HD gadgets evolve, the HDMI cable will give much better picture quality than any other cable. At least, that is what I hear.

If you are looking at an LCD, make sure that TV has 120hz because it will reduce the motion blur and will be better for a football game compared to a 60hz LCD.

I would recommend that you do not get absorbed into the whole plasma TV gimmick, because it is just hype. You should just do research and see which TV will fit your home best. Do not say that you want a plasma TV and nothing else.

Again, CNet can probably help you in finding the TV matching your desires, because it gives great reviews and specifications, and it has a search tool you can use to find your type of TV. I hope this answer helps and that you get an excellent quality TV.

Answer 3

1080i....Discovery's HD Theater, CBS and NBC all operate 1080i....

So does TLC and FOOD NETWORK just to name a few more.....

ABC, FOX, ESPN...those networks use the lower 720P for mostly SPORTS.....

Yes, Sport Networks generally use 720P.....

Fox Sports cannot TRANSMIT 1080P....no way...it's too much signal for a 6MHz bandwidth...it would bleed into the next channel....

Answer 4

You must have misunderstood or misread the fox advertisements, Currently, the highest resolution being broadcasted is 1080i. You'll see a lot of the "network" stations like CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC broadcast in 720p...but most other channels are starting to broadcast in 1080i. DirecTV has made comments that they plan on broadcasting 1080p...but a date has never been given. So something to look forward to in the future.

Answer 5

Only two HDTV resolutions are being broadcast now and in the foreseeable future.  Fox and ABC use 720p, all others use 1080i.  You would think that 1080i is "higher" resolution (more lines), but that is true only for stationary or slow-moving images.  1080i only shows 540 lines at a time, so when things move fast, you only get 540 lines of resolution.  That is why ABC and Fox, with emphasis on fast-moving sports programming, chose 720p.  1080p would definitely be an improvement, but for now the only source for that resolution is Blu-ray DVD.