There are several misconceived statements surrounding what HDTV actually is with the most common one being that DTV [Digital Television] is HDTV [High Definition Television.
Let us first commence and verify that receiving a digital transmission into a digital TV is NOT necessarily HDTV even though the High Definition transmission is digital and the TV set has to incorporate a digital decoder.

 There are several benefits to Digital TV which are explained on this link -  http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/en/why.html

The picture transmitted must be High Definition digital being received by a specific High Definition digital TV. It is important to be aware that TRUE High Definition can only be a result of both.


A “HD ready” label has been introduced as a quality sign for the differentiation of display equipment, capable of the actual processing and displaying of high definition signals, awarded on the basis minimum functionality requirements detailed in the “EICTA Conditions for HD Labelling of Display Devices.”


In addition to providing guidance for the retailers and consumers, the label should restrict misuse in brochures, promotional material and advertisements often inferring suitability to process and display HD signals as standard TV or digital TV sets have HD capability feature.

The label “HD ready” is awarded to display equipment capable of presenting HD sources with a much higher resolution than standard PAL (576i) and meeting all the requirements detailed below.

As laid down by the EITC, a display device (PDP, LCD, DLP™, etc.) has to cover the following requirements to be awarded the label “HD ready”:

1. Display – Display Engine
- The minimum native resolution of the display (e.g. PDP, LCD) or display engine (e.g. DLP™) is 720 physical lines in wide aspect ratio.

2. Video Interfaces
The display device accepts HD input via:
- Analogue YPbPr¹ - and
- DVI or HDMI

HD capable inputs accept the following HD video formats:
- 1280 x 720 @ 50 and 50Hz progressive (720p) – and
- 1920 x 1080 @ 50 and 60Hz interlaced (1080i)

The DVI or HDMI input supports content protection (HDCP)