HDTV, or high-definition television, uses high-resolution signals for the broadcast of television signals. As HDTV does not use traditional formats like NTSC, PAL etc. but mostly captures signals digitally, its introduction sometimes coincides with the introduction of digital television as well. HDTV has the DTV resolution with new set standards. This combination creates striking image with stunning sound. The main selling point of these sets is the high resolution they offer.

HDTV systems usually support some standard resolution and frame or field rates. With reference to HDTV, the format of the broadcasts is referred to using a notation describing the number of lines in the display resolution, progressive frames or interlaced fields, and number of frames or fields per second. For instance, a HDTV with format 720p60 can be expanded as 1280 × 720 pixels, progressive encoding with 60 frames per second.

High-definition television technology has various advantages and is rated high on customer satisfaction. HDTV generally receives a digital signal which either delivers a good picture or no picture at all. HDTV allows watching films shot in Panavision or Cinemascope, as most of them are presented in 16x9 proportioned semi-widescreen. The visual data in a HDTV is about 2-5 times more detailed than other televisions due to cleaner signals; the colors also look more realistic. The television industry would market two new pre-recorded disk formats called HD DVD and Blu-ray by spring 2006.

In the US, HDTV specifications are defined by the ATSC. Usually, a high-definition television uses a 16:9 aspect ratio display with an integrated ATSC tuner. One of the most critical problems that the television faces is the issue of compatibility. With approximately 600 million televisions working on HDTV specifications, there are some anomalies regarding its compatibility with the existing color TV standards.