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1080i means 1080 lines are used to create your TV picture. Half of these lines are scanned and displayed in a first pass and the other half in a second pass. This is called 'interlaced scanning'.
720p means 720 lines are used to create your TV picture. With 720p, all of the lines are scanned and displayed in one pass, in a technique called 'progressive scanning'.
These are the two high definition TV formats supported by Sky HD. Broadcasters and programme makers will choose which format is best for their programmes and your Sky HD box will automatically display the format that works best with your TV.
Bit rate is measured as 'bits per second' (bps) and refers to the rate at which data is transmitted.
A DLP (digital light processor) is a display device that reflects light on a pixel-by-pixel basis to create a projected image.
Some Sky HD programmes will be broadcast in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. For this cinema-like experience, you'll need a compatible home cinema surround sound system (containing five speakers and a sub-woofer).
Some HD TVs have a DVI (Digital Video Interface) connector instead of an HDMI connector. An adapter is needed to connect this to the HDMI connector on a Sky HD box. A DVI connection carries only picture information and not sound, and therefore a separate audio connection is also needed when connecting to Sky HD.
HD Ready is a European standard for HD TVs agreed by the TV industry. In order to use the HD Ready label, manufacturers must ensure that their TVs comply with a set of technical criteria. Sky HD is designed to work with TVs carrying the HD Ready label, so if you're thinking of joining Sky HD, look for TVs carrying this label.
HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is a copyright protection system that is incorporated into HD TVs and HD boxes. It prevents unauthorised duplication and distribution of copyrighted content. TVs that are HD Ready incorporate HDCP.
Many HD TVs have an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) connector, which can be used to connect to your Sky HD box. Think of it as the HD equivalent of a SCART connector. It's the simplest and best way to connect to Sky HD, as it carries both the picture and sound digitally - giving you the best possible quality.
Interlaced scanning is a way of reassembling a TV picture from a series of electrical (video) signals. With this technique, a display shows all the odd lines on one scan of the screen and then all the even lines in a second scan of the screen.
