HDTV and the Transition to Digital Broadcasting

5  HDTV and DTV Standards

DTV is complicated. In digital systems, exact timing precision of data communication must always work perfectly. There is no room for even a one clock cycle error without introducing the potential of a glitch.

Standardization of technology and protocols allows numerous broadcast industry segments—including equipment vendors, system integrators, networks and local stations—to design and deploy equipment that will be able to interoperate with other equipment. In a sense, the standards-compliant devices speak the same language. This helps insure interoperability and reliability in multi vendor and varied technology infrastructures.

The establishment of television technical specifications is addressed by standards bodies ...