Ofcom's advice on your next step

TV -
High Definition Television (HDTV)

HDTV broadcasts use several different technical standards. Both the 720p and 1080i standards in current use will work with set-top boxes carrying the 'HDTV' logo and HD displays carrying the 'HD Ready' logo.

Some shops have started to stock TV sets supporting a new HD standard, 1080p. People sometimes call 1080p 'true' or 'real' HD, because of its higher specification. Only a small number of set-top boxes currently support this standard though, and as yet there are no broadcasts in 1080p in the UK.

If 1080p was adopted in the future, new set-top boxes would be needed. These could almost certainly be used with existing HD Ready TVs. In addition, new 1080p 'HD Ready' displays can be used with existing 720p and 1080i signals as well as standard-definition signals, and so will work with the HD current services.

Back to previous page