Television System Video Standards
NTSC
VIDEO STANDARD: NTSC is the standard television system in the United States and North America.
The National Television System Committee (NTSC) was formed in 1940 and devised a television standard in 1941 for black and white televisions for improved interoperability amoung television manufacturer products.
PAL
ATSC
VIDEO STANDARD: ATSC is the current digital television standard which is designed to replace NTSC in the United States for over the air transmission. ATSC provides for high definition including the 16:9 wide screen format up to 1920x1080 pixels as well as high definition sound using the Dolby surround sound Digital AC-3 format.
The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) sets standards for digital television transmission over terrestrial, cable, and satellite networks. ATSC replaced much of the analog NTSC television system in the United States on June 12, 2009, and on August 31, 2011 in Canada. The ATSC system supports both forms of scanning (progressive or interlaced.)
QAM
VIDEO STANDARD: Auadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is used by Cable TV providers. QAM television tuners allows for the reception of unencrypted digital signals from a cable provider.
