Quote:
Originally Posted by jimguzowski
Does it make a difference that the TV is 720p vs. 1080i. In other words, is there such a thing as HD being broadcast in 720 v 1080i?
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I'm not sure if you got the answer you were looking for.
Just in case you were wondering, all ATSC receivers (the digital TV tuner in your tuner or set top box), at a minimum, must be able to receive and display all of the "standard" ATSC broadcast formats (various combinations of 480, 720, and 1080 resolutions, progressive/interlaced, and frame rate settings, a total of 18 possible formats).
Even if the "native" display resolution of your TV is only 1280x720, you can still receive and watch 1920x1080 programming because the receiver will automatically downconvert the picture to fit your display capabilities. Even if your TV is not "full HD" (1920x1080), you should still be able to watch all the programming that's being broadcast in any of the "standard" formats.
In other words, the physical limits of your TV's display resolution will not restrict your access to any programming even if the broadcast format is intended for higher resolution displays. You might lose a little bit of picture detail due to the image conversion (usually only a minor visual difference), but you will always have access to all of the broadcast channels, regardless of the source resolution.
So, bottom line is that there ARE programs broadcast in different formats including 480, 720, and 1080 resolutions. All TVs (regardless of 480, 720, 1080, or any other native resolution) should be able to access exactly the same digital TV channels (assuming you have strong, clean signals). If the broadcast format does not match the display's resolution, the picture is automatically resized to fit the display.
As a separate issue, people often debate whether 720p or 1080i pictures look better, or whether or not the average person can tell the difference between HD resolutions when sitting 8 feet away from the screen.