Content  
Before we get too far lets cut to the chase: where to find 1080p content. There is no pre-recorded 1080p content available to the average consumer, and probably won’t be for a while. But there are two sources of 1080i content (1080p’s kissing cousin): broadcast and prerecorded media. In broadcast some of the major networks and several cable and satellite networks transmit 1080i high-definition content. There’s not much pre-recorded content. There are several pre-recorded HD formats, none of which have wide industry acceptance. For the moment, let’s discuss broadcast HD.

The higher the display’s resolution, the closer you can sit without noticing the pixel structure. With a 1080p TV, you can sit approximately 6.5 feet away, instead of 9 feet for a TV with a 768p resolution.

It should come as no surprise that any chain is only as good as its weakest link. In looking at the broadcast chain there are a number of strengths and weaknesses. For an HDTV signal to look good the source material must be recorded in a format that is at least as good as the transmission medium. That means either something shot on film and then transferred to HD, or shot on HD video directly with an HD camera. From there, the raw content is distributed to the broadcast stations and finally transmitted over the air, or through cable or satellite systems. If any of those links don’t maintain the HD signal’s quality level then the broadcast image will suffer. Signal degradation can happen in numerous ways. Currently there are broadcast systems that cannot meet the full criteria. Instead of distributing at a more standard 45Mb/s rate, for example, PBS currently transmits at 19Mb/s. In some markets the local broadcasters decode this stream for local branding then re-encode the HD stream to about 15Mb/s. These up and down conversions degrade signal quality as the various decoding and encoding modules operate.

Let’s not forget about pre-recorded HD content. Currently, there is quite a stir about HD-DVD and Blu-ray. These formats are really the future of HD content. The present is bleak at best. There are a few hundred titles on Digital-VHS but this is tiny compared to the number of titles released on standard-definition DVD each day. There are also a few titles in the WMV (Windows Media Video) format but again, nothing like the number of DVDs that are available. All three of these formats require a different native playback device: HD-DVD and Blu-ray require a new DVD player, D-VHS is a videotape player, and WMV really is at home on a high-end PC. Right now, there is no stable platform for significant HD content distribution. Hollywood is also very concerned about releasing high-definition digital content. Last, and really most disturbing, there is even evidence that film transferred to video using current technology may not be capable of producing true 1920 by 1080 resolution.