SPECIAL
REPORT
“INSIDER INFORMATION”
HOW TO HARNESS
THE POWER OF THE
HDTV
REVOLUTION
New Century Service…
888-659-3474…www.ncsdigital.com…920-743-0021
Are YOU Confused About HDTV & HDTV Content ?
If so, don’t feel like you’re alone.
Although, over the next 6 years, experts predict that somewhere around
79,000,000 HDTV’s (no, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you) will be sold,
today the HDTV Revolution is just getting underway. To put some perspective to this, 79 million
New High-Definition Televisions sold over the next 6 years would represent
growth of 4 times that of the Small Dish Satellite TV Industry, which has been
the fastest growth technology in Consumer Electronics History.
At New
Century Service, we thought it would be helpful
to provide our customers (both new and old) with information about this HDTV
Revolution. Naturally, we want to be
your “one-stop-shop” when you’re ready to purchase a High-Definition TV Set,
and we certainly want you to make an informed investment in what many consider
to be a quantum leap forward in your “Home Entertainment Experience”.
Here Are Just A Few Questions You May Have…
The Answers Are Contained in This Report.
1. If I purchase a Digital TV Set, does that mean I’ll be able to receive
High-Definition TV Broadcasts? Is there
a difference between a Digital TV and a High-Definition TV?
2. Since I already have a Satellite TV System installed in my home, does
this mean that I’ll automatically be able to receive the High-Definition
Television Programs available via Satellite?
Will I need any additional equipment?
3. If I purchase additional equipment, will I have to pay extra for HDTV
Programs or Channels?
4. If I am receiving my Local Channels via satellite, does that mean that I
will be able to receive the Programs that are broadcast in HDTV by the major
networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX & PBS)?
5. Do I need additional equipment like an antenna and set-top box to process
and view HDTV Programs over-the-air? I
thought that over-the-air TV broadcasts are FREE.
6. What kind of HDTV set should I get?
How big should it be? Why is it a
different shape? What’s the difference
between Rear Projection; DLP TV’s; LCD TV’s and Plasma TV’s; and, which one is
best for me?
7. How much content is really available today? Is it like buying a car with no gas available
to make it run? Should I wait? How fast is more content being made
available?
8. What about the price? Can I fit HDTV into my Entertainment Budget? If I buy an HDTV Set does this
mean I have to run out and purchase Home Theater Surround Sound Equipment?
All of these questions, and more will be
answered in this useful “INSIDER REPORT” brought to you by New Century Service. READ ON to
learn about the most significant advancement in TV ever.
A Consumer Guide to High-Definition Television
If you’re ready to upgrade your home entertainment experience to
High-Definition TV, you probably already know that there’s more to it than just
walking into your local Big Electronics Store and saying, “I’ll take that
one.” There’s a whole new vocabulary to
learn. You have a new technology to
understand, and there are several choices to make. Before you make an investment in
High-Definition Television, you need to know what to look for to be sure that
the equipment you select will meet your needs and expectations both today and
in the future.
This guide, brought to you by New Century Service will equip you with the basic information you need to move confidently
into the future of High-Definition TV, answer your questions and explain this
technology in non-technical terms. Then,
when you’re ready to invest, we hope you’ll think of New Century Service as
your logical, right choice…for all the right reasons.
You’re Going to Have to Make Some Choices
Before you Invest in anything you need to make three choices.
·
What
is the Best Source of your High-Definition Television programming?
·
Do
you need an HDTV-Capable monitor, or HDTV-Ready television?
·
What
type of display (screen) technology is best for your viewing habits and your
home?
Selecting the source for your HD programming will directly impact whether
you invest in an HD-capable monitor or a HD-ready television. There are many things to take into
consideration before you select the display technology that’s most affordable and
best suited for your home. After you
read this guide, you should contact New Century Service and do some independent research to become familiar to what’s available
for you.
Here’s some background information to help you ask the right questions
and make the best HDTV choice.
Standard Definition Digital TV and High-Definition Television:
There’s a HUGE Difference.
Standard DTV (Digital
Television) is a huge leap forward in television technology compared to the analog television
that’s been widely available since the 1940’s.
For that reason, it is often confused with High-Definition
Television. But, make no mistake, the
two are very different.
DTV (Digital Television) is delivered and displayed using digital encoding,
similar to the way that a Personal Computer operates. By using digital technology, there is no
variation in picture and sound quality from the origination point until it is
displayed on your television. You always
receive a high-quality picture without the wavy lines or static you might
experience from a weak analog signal.
Because DTV (Digital Television) receives and displays digital images
that contain many times more picture elements (pixels – the small dots that
make up the color image on your screen) than standard analog television, you
can get a sharper on-screen image than with analog. Additionally, DTV does support
multiple-channel, CD-quality sound.
Although the general category of DTV includes SDTV (Standard Definition
Television), EDTV (Enhanced Definition Television) and HDTV (High-Definition
Television), all are not the same. This means that ALL
High-Definition TV is Digital, but not all Digital TV is High-Definition. A
High-Definition program must originate in High Definition and be broadcast in
High-Definition.
Furthermore, just because you might already be getting from digital
satellite or digital cable also does not automatically mean it is a
High-Definition signal.
Standard Definition
Television is basic digital television programming
delivered by satellite, your Satellite TV provider, or Cable TV Company. Typically, the SDTV Screen is the same,
nearly square shape as an analog television screen. Although digital images on an SDTV set are
crisp and clear, and noticeably better than on a standard analog TV set using
an antenna to receive over-the-air signals, neither the digital signal nor the
digital TV is representative of the quality and sheer beautiful viewing
experience available with true High-Definition Television.
High-Definition
Television is a completely new way to send and receive
TV broadcast signals. HDTV images are
made up of pixels that are much smaller and closer together than those used in
standard analog television, and there are millions more of them. Thus, HDTV can display 5 to 6 times the
detail of analog television to deliver picture quality that is more realistic,
dimensional and precise. For example,
you can see the morning dew on a flower, you can see the sweat on a boxer fly
off his face when hit with a punch and you can see the undulations on the green
in a golf match. People have said
High-Definition Television is like looking at everything through a clean
window. Although Standard Definition
Programs can be viewed on a High-Definition Television, High-Definition
Television quality can not be viewed on a Standard Definition (DTV) set.
Another great feature of HDTV is digital surround sound using Dolby
Digital, which is the same technology used to produce the sound you hear in
movie theaters.
The Shape’s a Big Thing: A Lesson in Aspect Ratio
Aside from dramatically improved picture quality and multi-channel
digital sound, the most noticeable difference between High-Definition and other
TVs is the shape of the viewing area which is defined by the aspect ratio.
The almost square aspect ratio that has been used extensively for
decades is 4:3 (the screen is 4 units
wide for every 3 units high. By
comparison, the High-Definition TV specifications call for the aspect ration
for high-definition viewing to be 16:9, much like a movie theatre screens.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
While the HDTV standard specifies the 16:9 aspect ratio, not all 16:9
television sets are capable of receiving HDTV signals. It’s very important to confirm
that the TV set that you are considering will actually receive and display high-definition
television. Check the specifications
carefully, don’t get attracted by a lower price or misled by an unknowing
salesperson into buying the wrong television just because it may look the
same as a true high-definition television.
More on Screens – Windowpane, Letterbox & the Stretch and
Zoom Solution
When you view 4:3 aspect ratio content on a true 16:9 aspect ratio HDTV
screen, you may get an onscreen image with vertical black or gray bars on each
side of the image. This is called a windowpane
screen. Likewise, when 16:9 aspect ratio content is viewed on a 4:3 aspect
ratio TV screen, you may see a long and narrow image with the black or gray
bars above and below the image. This is
called a letterbox screen.
The Stretch and Zoom
Solution – One very pleasant viewing capability of High-Definition Satellite Receivers (Yes, you will need a special High-Definition Satellite Receiver)
is “stretch and zoom.” This enables you
to eliminate the black or gray bars and fill your High-Definition with a non-HD
video image rather than have it squeezed into letterbox or windowpane formats.
Why High-Definition Television Looks So Crisp & Sharp
Understanding what resolution means to picture quality will make you a
smarter high-definition TV buyer. In “TV
terms”, resolution refers to the clarity of the screen image based on the
number of pixels (those small dots) on the screen. HDTV is the clear winner on resolution. For example, the image on an older 4:3 aspect
ratio screen typically is divided into 480 lines, each with 720 pixels. An HDTV with 1080 lines with 1920 pixels in
each line has 6 times the pixel density.
Are you starting to get it? It’s
all about the picture quality.
The image on a HDTV screen can be created using two different scanning
methods: interlaced and progressive. The
“p” or the “i” you might see in terminology such as 720p or 1080i refers to the
type of scanning used (progressive or interlaced). The numbers identify how many viewable
on-screen lines the TV offers. As the
number gets larger, the HDTV screen has more lines and more pixels to deliver a
sharper, more vivid image to viewers.
Choosing The Right Source for HDTV Programming
More and more High-Definition TV programming becomes available every
day. Content is driven by more HDTV sets
being sold and more and vice versa. It’s
just like when color TV sets replaced black and white TVs in virtually every
household in American and around the world.
There is some cost and program availability considerations that you
should be aware of when selecting the best option available for
receiving HDTV Programming.
Satellite TV Providers
are the CLEAR Winner:
Right now, and as the future unfolds, we believe that the most
High-Definition Television Programming Content and the best overall HDTV
picture quality and most robust technology (regarding features and benefits)
will be delivered via Satellite TV. At New Century Service, we are fully prepared to help you understand what is available and why
it’s important to you and your family.
For Example, Here are
Some Practical Observations:
·
Common sense should tell you that
picture quality is dramatically better when a signal is processed directly
through your own personal Satellite System, as opposed to traveling down miles
and miles of cable.
·
Cable TV Prices have increased
over 45% in the last 10 years. Satellite
TV has only gone up 8%. Program pricing
has historically been more stable in Satellite TV.
·
Every Customer Service Survey
ranks Satellite TV significantly higher than Cable TV. Satellite TV providers have won J.D. Power
Awards for “Excellence in Customer Service” the past 7 years in a row. On the other hand, consumers rank Cable TV as
low as they do the IRS.
·
Satellite TV subscribers are
signing up at a record pace. Cable TV is
losing subscribers at a record pace.
·
Simply put, Satellite TV has the
edge in technology, picture quality, programming content, customer service
& satisfaction, price and overall VALUE.
It beats Cable TV hands down.
In addition, ALL of the programs you receive from a satellite
service provider will be digital, although not all programs will be delivered
in High-definition Television. Remember,
our previous reference about programming and the switch from black and white to
color content and TVs approx 55 years ago.
The good thing about Satellite Television is that you can usually get
all the receivers you need, the dish, and the installation for FREE. There may be a small upgrade charge to go to
a High-Definition Satellite Television Receiver in some instances. All HD Programming, whether it’s delivered by
a Satellite TV provider or a Cable Company, naturally has additional charges
for HD Programming packages beyond the charge for basic programming. Optional HD Programming from a Satellite
Provider TODAY can include entire dedicated HD Channels and programming from
HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, The Movie Channel, ESPN, TNT, Starz HD, Discovery
Channel, HD-Net (Mark Cuban’s new Network), 100 NFL Games in the 2004-05
Season, the Olympics, Special Events, etc.
The landscape as we originally said is getting better and better…very
quickly.
Over-the-Air Broadcast
Television Programs in High-Definition TV:
To view HD programming provided by the traditional networks (ABC, CBS,
NBC, FOX, PBS, etc.) you need a special off-air antenna and an HD
tuner/receiver for over-the-air HD signal processing. Your signal quality may vary depending upon
your geographic location. The most
positive aspect of this choice is that the programming is FREE. You are limited to viewing only the programs
that the Networks select for HD transmission.
Call New
Century Service for special pricing on the
antenna and receiver required for this option.
Major HDTV Local Channel announcements have been made.
NOTE: HDTV
Magazine’s website has extensive news items about HDTV and a large list of
links to sites where you can find specific HD programming Information. HDTV offers a FREE trial subscription to
their daily on-line HD Programming Magazine.
An Annual Subscription to this Comprehensive daily guide is approx.
$34.95 (under 10 cents a day) which in our opinion is an excellent value.
Do I Need a TV That’s
HDTV-Ready or HDTV Capable?
If you look at ads or stop into Big Electronic Stores, you may notice a
variance of $300 to $500 for HDTVs with the same sized screens. Some of this difference may be attributable
to the display technology used, but the price difference is more likely the
result of what an HDTV-Capable monitor includes inside the TV, that is not
available on an HDTV-Ready television.
The simple difference is that the HDTV-Capable monitor has the HDTV tuner
built right into the TV and the HDTV-Ready television does not. Considering that the built-in tuner only
processes Over-the-Air Broadcast HDTV signals, and that you will need either a
Satellite TV receiver or Cable TV set top box anyway, in order to process all
the HDTV channels and content previously discussed via your personal Satellite
TV System, it seems to be a waste of money to buy an over-the-air HDTV tuner
already built-in to an HDTV set. Our
thinking is that, as long as you’re going to need a satellite receiver, what
does it matter if you have another over-the-air receiver, especially since this
type of “outboard” over-the-air HDTV
tuner is a fraction of the cost of an already built-in tuner.
Simply put, you have more flexibility when you select an HDTV-Ready
Television.
What Type of HDTV
Display Do I Need?
New Century Service will be happy to help you select a display technology that suits your
needs and your budget. However, there
are some options and things that you should know before you talk to anyone.
HDTVs are available in several types of displays, each with its pluses
and minuses. Depending upon the method
used for displaying the on-screen image, you may notice differences in picture
brightness or clarity based upon the viewing angle or for other reasons.
Be certain that you have a location in your home that is big enough to
accommodate the HDTV set. Some of the
projection models may require a fair amount of floor space. You don’t want to end up buying too big an
HDTV television compared to the size of room in which it will be placed. Also be aware of where the windows are in the
room where you’ll use your new HDTV. The
room’s brightness can have an impact on the display type that you choose.
Here are the 7
Different Display Technologies You Will See in Stores Today:
Direct View CRT
(Cathode Ray Tube) – This is the familiar TV tube
found in most “regular” television sets today.
It is one of the lower cost technologies available for displaying today’s
HDTV Programs. However, due to the
weight of the glass tube, these HDTV sets are limited to a size of 32 to 40
inches.
Rear Projection TV – This is another type of CRT system.
In Rear Projection TVs, the image is projected onto a mirror or a series
of mirrors that reflect the image onto the screen at the front of the set. Rear Projection technology is often the least
expensive way to get a larger screen compared with a regular CRT. However, Rear Projection sets get deeper as
screen size increases, so large screen models usually require a lot of
space. The viewing angle may affect the
perceived clarity of the on-screen images.
Front Projection TV – This system has an image source that projects the HDTV signals onto a
screen pretty much the same way a projector does in a movie theater. The only factors that limit size in these
systems are the amount of light the system outputs, the distance from the
projector to the screen and the size of the screen onto which the HDTV images
are to be projected.
DLP (Digital Light
Processing) – This projection display technology is more
expensive than CRT projection systems, but not as costly as LCD or Plasma
screens. Using a digital micromirror
device, DLP images are produced by hundreds of thousands of microscopic
mirrors, one for each pixel on the screen.
This results in razor sharp picture quality and the ability to display
very subtle color changes to support over 16 million hues on the HDTV
screen. The DLP light engine delivers a
bright picture to the screen making this display a good choice for use in a
bright room. Pixels are tightly packed
to deliver good color and resolution.
DLP is a popular choice for a projection display that combines value
with performance. And, there’s even more
good news. Some DLP HDTV sets are
shrinking substantially in depth and overall weight. Therefore, in the next generation of DLPs
mounting these screens directly to a wall will be possible. This is a huge benefit.
LCD (Liquid Crystal
Display) – This technology has been used for some
time in laptop computer screens. LCDs
are flat screens/panels filled with liquid.
Each pixel on the screen is lighted individually to produce a display.
One strength of LCDs is the picture quality is very consistent even when you
are not viewing images from directly in front of the display.
LCoS (Liquid Crystal
on Silicon) – LCoS is the next step in LCD technology
and offers remarkable resolution because several million pixels are etched into
each of the silicon chips that make up the display. This superior, concentrated pixel count
delivers a great image and enables LCoS displays to be manufactured in much
smaller versions for use in portable devices.
Plasma Displays – Some larger flat screens/panels use conductive plasma instead of
liquid crystal. These are commonly
called Plasma displays. Plasma displays
are very sleek and thin, making them a hot choice among consumers who say this
technology delivers the best color saturation, accuracy and vibrancy. Plasma is among the most expensive displays.
Screen Size – “How Big” is “Too Big?”
For optimum viewing you need to match the size of the screen with the
dimensions of the room that it will occupy and the distance you’ll need to sit
from it.
For HD screens, one manufacturer recommends a “rule of three” for how far
to sit from a screen for the best view.
Multiply the height of the 16: 9 HD Screen by three for the best viewing
distance. Surprisingly with HDTV’s
you’ll discover that you actually need to sit closer than you think for the
best view.
Use These General Guidelines for 16:9 Aspect Ratio Screens:
Screen Size Screen
Size Best Viewing
(Diagonal)
(Height)
Distance
60”…………………………….
29”……………………………… 7 Feet
50”…………………………….
24”……………………………… 6 Feet
40”…………………………….
19”……………………………… 5 Feet
30”…………………………….
14”……………………………… 4 Feet
It’s best to use a combination of these optimum viewing distances, the
type of HD display you have decided upon and the size of the room you plan to
use as helpful guidelines for selecting the HD Display that is best suited for
your home. We have seen people regret
going too small. We believe that it’s
better to go a little bit bigger than the charts recommend.
More Screen Considerations
Another factor in your decision on a display technology is the way you
will be using your television set. If
you play a lot of video games or spend a lot of time watching channels where
text and graphics stay in the same location on the screen for quite a long
time, you may want to choose an LCD, DLP or LCoS display. Static images may be “burned in” on plasma
and CRT-driven rear-projection screens, leaving a faint, but permanent
impression of the image on the screen.
Many manufacturers have developed technology to overcome this problem so
be sure to ask before you buy to see if this has been addressed in the model
you select.
A Few Words About HDTV Connectors
You’ll need to become familiar with the three most common inputs for HDTV
that you will come across in your search for the display best suited to fit
your needs. Naturally, New Century Service will assist you, so you make the right choice the first time. These HDTV connectors maximize results:
Component Video – Using a three plug video connector, component video delivers the best
viewing experience by supporting superior color details, improved color purity,
and a reduction in the impact that interference or other poor signal quality
issues may have.
Digital Visual
Interface (DVI) – DVI connectors transfer video
signals in pure digital form, which is especially beneficial if you’re using a
plasma, LCD, or DLP TV. Signals are
encrypted with HDCP (High-band-width Digital Content Protection) to prevent
recording. There are two types of DVI
connections – DVI-D carries digital-only signals and DVI-I pass both digital
and analog video signals. Some TVs
feature DVI-I inputs for greater hookup flexibility.
High-Definition
Multimedia Interface (HDMI) – An HDMI connector
supports an all-digital link between an HD satellite receiver that combines
digital video and digital audio on one connection rather that using separate
connections fro each function. This
connector delivers extremely high-quality digital video and audio. HDMI is fully backwards compatible with DVI
(referenced above).
Wrapping It All Up:
Before You Buy Ask Yourself:
1.
Have
I re-read this Insider Information
Report and understood all of its contents?
2.
Do
I realize that a small thing like the right connectors can make a difference in
the quality of my High-Definition Television Viewing Experience?
3.
Doesn’t
it make sense to make an important investment like HDTV through a Company that
has a Customer’s best interests at heart?
4.
Since
I don’t make this type of purchase frequently, how important is it to me to
make the right decisions about HDTV the first time around?
5.
Have
I taken the time to add up all the cash that my family spends each month on
entertainment outside the home and at the video rental store? Have I considered that this investment in
HDTV is just that, and it may not even represent a “financial stretch”?
Now You’re Ready for the Final Step
Now that this “Insider Report” has taken much of the mystery out of HDTV,
you’re ready to make your choices. Think
about how much more you know now than before you read this Report. Since you are better informed, remember
you’re in charge when it comes to making your final choice about what HDTV set
to buy and what content you find interesting and compelling for you and your
family.
We know that the next TV you’ll be looking at will be a High Definition
TV and we’re convinced that it will be sooner, rather than later. We truly hope that you’ll give New Century Service the opportunity to serve you and assist you when it’s time for you to
finalize your purchase. We’d love to
help you sit back, relax and get ready for the thrill of experiencing the most
beautiful home entertainment experience you’ve ever had. Thanks for your consideration and interest.
