High-definition television in the United States
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High-definition television (HDTV) in the United States was introduced in 1998 and has since become increasingly popular and dominant in the television market. Hundreds of HD channels are available in millions of homes and businesses both terrestrially and via subscription services such as satellite, cable and IPTV. HDTV has quickly become the standard, with about 85% of all TVs used being HD as of 2018.[1]Script error: No such module "Unsubst". In the US, the 720p and 1080i formats are used for linear channels, while 1080p is available on a limited basis, mainly for pay-per-view and video on demand content. Some networks have also begun transmitting content at 1080p via ATSC 3.0 multiplex channels, with CBS and NBC affiliates being the main stations that transmit at 1080p.
Proposals and introduction
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began soliciting proposals for a new television standard for the U.S. in the late 1980s and later decided to ask companies competing to create the standard to pool their resources and work together, forming what was known as the Grand Alliance in 1993.
On July 23, 1996, WRAL-TV (the then CBS affiliate in Raleigh, North Carolina; now affiliated with NBC) became the first television station in the United States to broadcast a digital television signal.[2]
HDTV sets became available in the U.S. in 1998 and broadcasts began around November 1998. The first public HDTV broadcast was of the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery and John Glenn's return to space; that broadcast was made possible in part by the Harris Corporation.[3] The first commercial broadcast of a local sporting event in HD was during Major League Baseball's Opening Day on March 31, 1998, the Texas Rangers against the Chicago White Sox from The Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, TX. The telecast was produced by LIN Productions, and overseen by LIN Productions president and Texas Rangers television executive producer Lee Spieckerman. The game was also the inaugural telecast on the digital channel of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas NBC affiliate KXAS channel 5. The event was simultaneously shown via satellite at a reception attended by members of congress, the FCC and members of the industry in Washington, DC. This telecast was also the first commercial HD broadcast in the state of Texas.[4] The first major sporting event broadcast nationwide in HD was Super Bowl XXXIV, broadcast by ABC on January 30, 2000. By the 2014–15 season every network show producing new episodes had transitioned to high definition.[5]
Satellite and cable
Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Satellite television companies in the United States, such as Dish Network and DirecTV, started to carry HD programming in 2003. Satellite transmissions in the U.S. use various forms of PSK modulation. A separate tuner is required to receive HD satellite broadcasts.
Cable television companies in the U.S. generally prefer to use 256-QAM to transmit HDTV. Many of the newer HDTVs with integrated digital tuners include support for decoding 256-QAM in addition to 8VSB for OTA digital. Cable television companies started carrying HDTV in 2003.
Currently, HD programming is carried by all major television networks in nearly all DMAs, including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, The CW, MyNetworkTV, Telemundo, Univision, and UniMás; and on many independent stations. All but a select few of cable networks offer an HD broadcast to cable and satellite companies.
HD programming on broadcast channels and premium content providers such as HBO and Showtime had Dolby Digital 5.1.
List of current American high-definition channels
Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
| Name | First-launched HD service | HD Format[6] | Letterbox/Pillarbox | Category | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A&E | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | N/A | Entertainment | Cable |
| ABC | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Pillarbox (2001–2016) Letterbox (2016–present) |
Broadcast | |
| AccuWeather Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | N/A | News | Cable |
| Adult Swim | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Pillarbox (2007–2013) Letterbox (2013–present) |
Entertainment | ||
| Altitude | N/A | Sports - Regional | |||
| AMC | Entertainment | ||||
| American Heroes Channel | |||||
| Animal Planet | Lifestyle | ||||
| AT&T SportsNet | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080p | Sports – Regional | ||
| ASPiRE | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | Entertainment | ||
| AWE | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | Lifestyle | ||
| AXS TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| Azteca | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Broadcast – Spanish | Broadcast | ||
| BBC America | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | Cable | ||
| BBC World News | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | News | |||
| beIN Sports | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Sports | ||
| beIN Sports en Español | Sports – Spanish | ||||
| BET | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | Entertainment | ||
| BET Her | |||||
| Big Ten Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Sports - College | ||
| Bloomberg TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | News | ||
| Boomerang (TV network) | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Family | ||
| Bravo | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | Lifestyle | ||
| Cars.TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports | |||
| Cartoon Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Pillarbox (2007–2013) Letterbox (2013–present) |
Family | ||
| CBS | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Pillarbox (1998–2018) Letterbox (2018–present) |
Broadcast | ||
| CBS Sports Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports | Cable | ||
| Cinemax (MoreMax, ActionMax, ThrillerMax, 5starMax, MovieMax, OuterMax, MaxLatino) | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Premium Movies | Premium | ||
| CMT | N/A | Entertainment | Cable | ||
| CNBC | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | News | |||
| CNN | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| Comedy Central | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| Comedy.TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| Cooking Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | |||
| Crime & Investigation Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Pillarbox | Entertainment | |
| The CW | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | Broadcast | ||
| Daystar | N/A | 720p | Religion | Cable | |
| Destination America | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | Lifestyle | ||
| Discovery Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| Discovery en Español | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Spanish | |||
| Discovery Familia | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Spanish | |||
| Discovery Family | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Family | |||
| Discovery Life | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | |||
| Disney Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting".[7] | 720p | Pillarbox (2008–2017) Letterbox (2017–present) |
Family | |
| Disney Junior | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Pillarbox (2012–2017) Letterbox (2017–present) | |||
| Disney XD | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Pillarbox (2009–2017) Letterbox (2017–present) | |||
| E! | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | Lifestyle | ||
| Epix (Epix 2, Epix Hits) | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Premium Movies | |||
| ES.TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | Cable | ||
| ESPN | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Sports | ||
| ESPN2 | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| ESPNews | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| ESPNU | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| ESPN Deportes | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports – Spanish | |||
| EVINE Live | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | Shopping | ||
| Flix | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Premium Movies | Premium | ||
| FM | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Music | Cable | ||
| Food Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | |||
| Fox | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Pillarbox (2004–2007) Letterbox (2007–present) |
Broadcast | |
| Fox Business Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | News | Cable | ||
| Fox Deportes | N/A | Sports – Spanish | |||
| Fox News Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | News | |||
| FS1 | N/A | Sports | |||
| FS2 | |||||
| Fox Soccer Plus | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| Fox Sports Networks (All Networks) | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports – Regional | |||
| Freeform | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Family | |||
| Fuse | N/A | 1080i | Music | ||
| FX | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Entertainment | ||
| FXM | Movies | ||||
| FXX | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| FYI | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | |||
| GAC Family | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | Family | ||
| GAC Living | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | |||
| Galavisión | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Spanish | |||
| Gol TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports – Spanish | |||
| Golf Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports | |||
| Game Show Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| Hallmark Channel | N/A | Family | |||
| Hallmark Movies & Mysteries | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Movies | |||
| HBO (HBO2, HBO Comedy, HBO Family, HBO Latino, HBO Signature, HBO Zone) | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Premium Movies | Premium | ||
| HDNet Movies | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Movies | Cable | ||
| HGTV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | |||
| History | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| HLN | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | News | |||
| HSN | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Shopping | |||
| HSN 2 | |||||
| IFC | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Movies | |||
| Investigation Discovery | N/A | Entertainment | |||
| Ion | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Broadcast | ||
| Justice Central | N/A | 1080i | News | Cable | |
| Lifetime | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | |||
| LMN | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| Logo TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| Magnolia Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| MASN (MASN2) | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports – Regional | |||
| MAVTV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports | |||
| Mega TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Broadcast – Spanish | |||
| MGM HD | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Movies | Premium | ||
| Midco Sports Network | N/A | Sports – Regional | Cable | ||
| Minnesota Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | Broadcast | ||
| MLB Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Sports | Cable | |
| MLB StrikeZone | |||||
| Motor Trend | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | |||
| The Movie Channel (The Movie Channel Xtra) | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Premium Movies | Premium | ||
| MoviePlex (IndiePlex, RetroPlex) | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| MSG (MSG Plus, MSG Western New York) | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports – Regional | Cable | ||
| MSNBC | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting".[8] | News | |||
| MTV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| MTV2 | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| MTV Live | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Music | |||
| MyDestination.TV | N/A | Lifestyle | |||
| MyNetworkTV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Broadcast | ||
| Nat Geo Wild | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | Cable | ||
| National Geographic | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| NBA TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | Sports | ||
| NBC | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Pillarbox (1999–2002) Letterbox (2002–present) |
Broadcast | ||
| NBC Sports Regional Networks | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports – Regional | Cable | ||
| NBC Universo | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Spanish | |||
| NESN | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports – Regional | |||
| Newsmax TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | News | |||
| NewsNation | N/A | ||||
| NFL Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports | |||
| NFL RedZone | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| NHL Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| Nick at Nite | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Pillarbox (2007-2020) Letterbox (2020-present) |
Family | ||
| Nickelodeon | |||||
| Nicktoons | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Pillarbox (2013–2020) Letterbox (2020–present) | |||
| Nick Jr. Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| One America News Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | News | |||
| Outdoor Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports | |||
| Ovation | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | |||
| OWN | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| Oxygen | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| Pac-12 Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports – College | |||
| Paramount Network | N/A | Entertainment | |||
| PBS | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Both | Broadcast | ||
| Pets.TV | N/A | Lifestyle | Cable | ||
| Playboy TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Adult | |||
| Pop | N/A | Lifestyle | |||
| QVC | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Shopping | |||
| Recipe.TV | N/A | Lifestyle | |||
| Reelz | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Entertainment | ||
| Revolt | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | Music | ||
| RFD-TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | |||
| Science | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | |||
| SEC Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 720p | Sports - College | ||
| ShortsTV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | 1080i | Movies | ||
| Showtime (Showtime 2, Showcase, Showtime Extreme, SHO×BET, Showtime Next, Showtime Women) | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Premium Movies | Premium | ||
| Smithsonian Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | Cable | ||
| SNY | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports – Regional | |||
| Sony Movie Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Movies | |||
| Spectrum SportsNet LA | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports – Regional | |||
| Spectrum SportsNet | N/A | ||||
| Sportsman Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports | |||
| Starz (Starz Comedy, Starz Edge, Starz Kids and Family, Starz InBlack, Starz Cinema) | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Premium Movies | Premium | ||
| Starz Encore (Starz Encore, Starz Encore Action, Starz Encore Black, Starz Encore Classic, Starz Encore Suspense) | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| SundanceTV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Movies | Cable | ||
| Syfy | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| TBS | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Pillarbox (2007–2010) Letterbox (2010–present) | |||
| TCM | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Movies | |||
| Telemundo | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Broadcast – Spanish | Broadcast | ||
| TeenNick | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Family | Cable | ||
| Tennis Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports | |||
| TLC | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | |||
| TNT | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| Travel Channel | N/A | Lifestyle | |||
| truTV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| TUDN | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports – Spanish | |||
| TV Land | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Family | |||
| TV One | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| UniMás | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Broadcast – Spanish | Broadcast | ||
| Univision | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Broadcast – Spanish | Broadcast | ||
| UP tv | N/A | Family | Cable | ||
| USA Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| Viceland | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Lifestyle | |||
| VH1 | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Entertainment | |||
| WE tv | N/A | Lifestyle | |||
| The Weather Channel | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | News | |||
| WeatherNation TV | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | ||||
| World Fishing Network | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports | |||
| YES | Script error: No such module "Date table sorting". | Sports – Regional | |||
See also
Script error: No such module "Portal".
- Big Three television networks
- Cable television in the United States
- Communications in the United States
- Fourth television network
- List of television stations in the United States
- List of United States pay television channels
- List of United States over-the-air television networks
- List of United States television markets
- Satellite television in the United States
- Television in the United States
- Television news in the United States
- United States cable news
References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ History of WRAL Digital
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ End of an era: the last US broadcast network TV shows finally switch from SD to HD. Diverse Tech Geek. 11 June 2014.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Template:High-definition television broadcasting Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Television in the United States Template:Telecommunications Template:Federal Communications Commission