How to Compare HDTV Formats 720p and 1080i

By eHow Electronics Editor

Rate: (2 Ratings)

It is very difficult for a broadcaster to beam both 720p and 1080i formats considering the expenses and bandwidth it calls for. So, how does one format differ from the other and how does it impact the viewing experience? Find out through the following steps.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Understand the process of television broadcast. A picture is first electrically scanned and then each line of the scan is converted and beamed on to a receiver in the form of an electrical signal. The receiver decodes the signal back to the scan lines and puts the picture together on your screen.

Step2

Analyze how the 720p format works. A 720p line consists of 720 lines, each line made up of 1,280 pixels. These 720 lines create a frame and about 60 such frames are broadcast every second. This is called a progressive-scan format and is denoted by the letter ‘p’.

Step3

Analyze how the 1080i format works. A 1080i line consists of 1,440 to 1,920 pixels. These 1080 lines together form a frame. Unlike 710p, 1080i broadcasts only 30 frames per second. This interlaced scanning format is denoted by the letter ‘i’.

Step4

Study the strengths of both the formats. The 720p is perfect for fast moving action, especially sports, while the 1080i is better suited for observing still images in detail like photographs.

Step5

Analyze the picture quality of both the formats. The 720p offers more brightness and a higher contrast ratio than the 1080i, thus making for a better viewing experience.

Tips & Warnings

All HDTV sets or HD ready sets support both 720p and 1080i, so from the perspective of a consumer, the format shouldn’t really be a concern while buying their HDTV.