The first commercial HDTV system was Hi­ Vision/MUSE developed by NHK laboratories in Japan in the 1970s. After abortive Japanese attempts to have High-Vision/MUSE adopted as a de facto world television standard in 1986, a European consortium developed an alternative incompatible standard with 1,250 scanning lines.

     In 1987, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created an Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service (ACATS) to conduct a testing program to select an American HDTV standards. After eight years of development and testing, the FCC adopted a digital scheme that includes 18 types of advanced television production and transmission technology. American broadcasters will be able to transmit both HDTV and SDTV (lower-quality Standard Definition) programming via terrestrial towers, over cable television systems, and from broadcast satellites.

     The FCC mandated a ten-year conversion period (1997 2006) for the transition from terrestrial analog broadcasting to a system based on all-digital technology. Most large market television stations are transmitting their programming in both analog and digital formats, but many small-market stations and public broadcaster affiliates have yet to make the conversion.

     U.S television networks are simulcasting prime time programming in both analog and digital HDTV formatL Cable television and satellite services are increasing the amount of HDTV programming they transmit as the number of digital television sets sold to consumers increases. A key driver of set sales and cable/satellite HD programming subscriptions are sporting events and feature films transmitted in high­ definition. HDTV sets are available at retail prices between 1,000 and $2,000, and prices continue to fall as more consumers purchase advanced television models!

     Japan is also making the conversion to digital broadcasting, but HDTV adoption is proceeding more slowly in Europe and other regions of the world. The future of  global television technology features digital production and transmission with increasing use of wide-screen displays and multi-channel audio playback that replicates that found in motion picture theaters. Home theaters featuring HDTV image and sound technology will be commonplace in the United States as the technology is adopted by viewers of all socio-economic groups. It is uncertain if the FCC's deadline of 2006 for full digital conversion will be met, but HDTV technology will continue to make gradual but steady gains in adoption as users make the decision to switch to the new viewing option.