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What Does PAL Mean in Video Terms?

What Does PAL Mean in Video Terms? thumbnail
PAL is a television standard used globally.

The PAL video format is an analog color television standard. It's most often compared to NTSC, another television standard. PAL was adopted in 1967, while NTSC was adopted in 1953. These standards only apply to video players that are connected to TV sets.

  1. Technical Differences

    • PAL stands for Phase Alternating Line. Its format has 625 lines of resolution at 50 half-frames per second.

      NTSC stands for National Television System Committee. Its format has 525 lines of resolution at 60 half-frames per second.

    Practical Differences

    • NTSC videos are the primary format for analog video in North America, and will not play in PAL players.

      PAL videos are the primary format for Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. PAL videos will not play in NTSC players.

    Universal Players

    • Some DVD and VCR players support both formats. In addition, if either is connected to a computer display, the difference is negligible.

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  • Photo Credit tv set illustration image by Antalia from Fotolia.com

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