Currently even the cheapest sets in the stores here in the U.S. are all 16:9 HD, at least 720p resolution. Even over two years ago when I bought a cheap 20" TV with an integrated DVD player, it still had 1280 x 720 resolution.

How about in your country? Do the stores still sell TVs only capable of displaying PAL or DVD-level resolution?

Not for a LONG time, and hardly any sets are 720 resolution, or ever were - tiny numbers of old Plasma sets (and even smaller numbers of old LCD sets) were 720 resolution, but hardly any.

Almost all sets that weren't (or aren't) Full HD (1920x1080) are 768 pixel resolution.

I haven't been into an electrical store for a while now but when I went looking for a new TV last year, all the TV's I looked at were 1920x1080 with a few being 3D capable.


I'm not sure about smaller screen sizes but 32" and over are all 1920x1080 (i'm sure I'll be corrected if i'm wrong).

Over here in the UK, it's the new Smart TV's that seem to be the in thing with Panasonic, Sony, Samsung and LG all making them.

Just out of curiosity, How many HD channels do you have over there in the US. We currently have 4 Freeview HD channels and around 60+ via Satellite from SKY.

Recent study shows that UK has the highest penetration of HD sets in the world at something like 54% of households having at least one HD TV.

I'm pretty sure you can go to Tesco and get an 18" tv with freeview built in, not necessarily HD for cheap.

USA is far more advanced as far as sheer volume of HD channels. Before I moved to the UK in '04 even back the mainstream terrestrial networks had HD equivalents (CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, PBS) and some of the cable networks as well - notably the movie networks and ESPN.

Nowadays just about every channel has an HD equivalent - far beyond what is on offer here in the UK. The tuning systems are a bit more advanced these days as well...on my parent's cable system (TWC) for instance you do have a choice between SD and HD networks as they are on differently numbered channels, however if you are connected via HDMI and enter in let's say channel 2 (which in NY is CBS), the cable box will automatically divert to 702 which is CBS HD.

I long for the days that happens on Virgin here.

It'll be HD.

I'm pretty sure it's not even possible to buy an LCD panel of any significant size without it being at least 720 resolution. The smaller TVs are generally just computer monitors with about £5 of extra circuitry anyway.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/5297595.htm
1366 x 768 (HD Ready)
No Freeview HD, only Freeview.

I bet all 768 TVs in the US can receive FTA/OTA ATSC HD broadcasts. Not all 768 TVs in the UK can receive FTA/OTA Freeview HD broadcasts.

There are still even "Full HD" TVs without Freeview HD tuners built-in.

Can't find any sub-768-line displays for sale though.

Cheers,
David.

Be interested to hear how many free HD channels there are that you can get without cable or sat.

I know in parts of Germany there are up to 20 free HD channels that you can get if you have required tuner.

Yeah i'd like to know how many free HD channels are available in the US and Europe for that matter and if 3D has taken off in the US and how much 3D content is shown over there.

The still Non HD Freeview TV's being sold annoys me, Nigel is there much price difference between SD and HD tuners installed in a new TV's?

Basically all FTA channels in the US now have HD equivalents: CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, CW, PBS. Local markets will also have some local FTA channels (i.e. WWOR in NYC) that will have HD. I think, though it's a prerequisite of all local affiliates of national networks to support HD broadcasts. Just keep in mind, those are the only FTA channels in the states--nothing like it is here.

Obviously there's a greater cost for the more expensive chip set used for Freeview HD (not really the 'tuner'), but the option is there - Freeview HD or not. If you have satellite or cable then a more expensive 'tuner' is a complete waste of money, and many people would rather have a cheaper set without Freeview HD.

Bear in mind, there was never supposed to be Freeview HD, DSO was planned entirely as an SD only service - it was only at the last moment that the government changed it's mind, and required an HD terrestrial service. The HD service was then 'bodged' in, further reducing SD quality.

1. It's getting hard to find a cable / satellite channel that does not have an HD equivalent. I would say upwards of well over 100 cable / satellite channels now simulcast in HD. That doesn't mean all of their content is native HD, though, although I doubt with HD camcorders selling for less than $100 in the US that much new programming is still SD.

The U.S., along with Japan, actually pioneered commercial (non-experimental HDTV). By 2000 the major networks were producing some of their shows in HD 720/1080, and at least one HD cable network (HBO HD) had launched.

2. The U.K. uses, as far as I know, DVB-T (MPEG-2) for standard-definition broadcasts and the newer DVB-T2 (MPEG-4) for over-the-air HDTV. The U.S. is stuck with the old ATSC standard, which is based on MPEG-2 whether HD or SD. Therefore any ATSC tuner can view HD content, although not necessarily in HD (it will automatically downscale it if not capable of that resolution).

Not the full truth. If you're talking about terrestrial FTA, there are many "subchannels" that do not broadcast in HDTV - MeTV, Antenna TV, PBS World, etc. If you're talking about satellite FTA, there's loads of it (although not nearly as much as Europe), though largely in foreign languages.

All mainstream cable channels have HD equivalents, as do virtually all sports channels and most movie channels.

All major terrestrial networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, Univision, etc.) are in HD.

The only channels not in HD today are religious and shopping channels (of which there are about a bazillion), most foreign-language channels available in the U.S. (e.g. in Hindi, Punjabi, Chinese, etc.), and some lesser-watched cable/satellite networks.

3D TV was a fad in 2011 which has largely died out. I'm guessing that most home viewers of 3D either get their content off the internet (services like Vudu have 3D movies available) or Blu-Ray.

Most of the small ones have pretty lousy viewing angles too! Had a heck of a time finding something suitable for my needs last year.

Everything I saw was at least 720p though.

Not true - it's doubtful you would find and TV as low a resolution of that - minimum is almost always 768.

Small screens do tend to have a crappy viewing angle, particularly cheap makes.

Well it happens here on Freeview.

I don't think those 20 HD channels are available via DTT.

As they are on satellite they are also available in the UK with the dish pointed at 19E.

I lowest resolution I have seen is 1366 x 768 and its usually found on small TVs.

Most Germans are on cable but you could try DVB-T-Portal.de the site is in German but Google chrome translate may help.