720p

Video resolution
This chart shows the most common display resolutions, 720p being one of the 16:9 formats shown in blue.

720p (720 lines progressive) is a progressive HD signal format with 720 horizontal lines/1280 columns and an aspect ratio (AR) of 16:9, normally known as widescreen HD (1.78:1). All major HD broadcasting standards (such as SMPTE 292M) include a 720p format, which has a resolution of 1280×720p.

The number 720 stands for the 720 horizontal scan lines of image display resolution (also known as 720 pixels of vertical resolution).[1] The p stands for progressive scan, i.e. non-interlaced. When broadcast at 60[note 1] frames per second, 720p features the highest temporal resolution possible under the ATSC and DVB standards. The term assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, thus implying a resolution of 1280×720 px (0.9 megapixels).

720i (720 lines interlaced) is an erroneous term found in numerous sources and publications. Typically, it is a typographical error in which the author is referring to the 720p HDTV format. However, in some cases it is incorrectly presented as an actual alternative format to 720p.[3] No proposed or existing broadcast standard permits 720 interlaced lines in a video frame at any frame rate.[4]

Comparison with interlace scanning

Progressive scanning reduces the need to prevent flicker by anti-aliasing single high contrast horizontal lines.[5][6] It is also easier to perform high-quality 50<->60 Hz conversion and slow-motion clips with progressive video.

Resolutions

Standard Resolution Aspect ratio
Vintage Small TVs; DVCPROHD[7] 960 × 720 4:3 (effectively 16:9 non-square pixels)
HD (standard) 1280 × 720 16:9
Vertical 720 × 1280 9:16
Youtube 720p 406 × 720 9:16

Notes

  1. ^ It is, however, more commonly broadcast at (60/1.001), or precisely 59.940059, matching the NTSC SDTV field rate; this and the 50.00 Hz of PAL are still the second and third highest standard framerates.[2]

See also

  • iconTelevision portal

References

  1. ^ "720p – AfterDawn: Glossary of technology terms & acronyms".
  2. ^ Hoffner, Randy (2008-01-09). "Will the End of NTSC Be the End of 59.94?". TVTechnology. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  3. ^ Briere, Daniel; Patrick Hurley (2006). HDTV for Dummies. For Dummies. p. 13. ISBN 9780470096734.
  4. ^ "ATSC Standard: Video System Characteristics of AVC in the ATSC Digital Television System" (PDF). 2008-07-29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
  5. ^ "720p". AfterDawn. 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  6. ^ "720p". CNET Glossary. Archived from the original on 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  7. ^ "DVCPRO HD Format Specifications". Apple, Inc. Archived from the original on 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2023-06-24.

External links

  • EBU Technical paper on HDTV formats
  • v
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  • e
Designation
Usage examples Definition (lines) Rate (Hz)
Interlaced (fields) Progressive (frames)
Low,
MP@LL
LDTV, VCD, HTV 240, 288 (SIF)   24, 30; 25
Standard,
MP@ML
SDTV, SVCD, DVD, DV 480 (NTSC), 576 (PAL/SECAM) 60; 50 24, 30; 25
Enhanced,
HMP@HML
EDTV 480, 540 (NTSC-HQ), 576 (PAL-HQ)   24, 30; 25
High,
MP@HL
HDTV, BD, HD DVD, HDV 720   24, 30, 60; 25, 50
1080, 1440 60; 50 24, 30, 60; 25, 50
Ultra-high
UHDTV, UHD BRD 2160, 4320   60, 120, 180
  • v
  • t
  • e
Television
Analog
405 lines
525 lines
625 lines
819 lines
1125 lines
1250 lines
Audio
Hidden signals
Historical
Digital
Interlaced
Progressive
MPEG-2 Video
AVS
AVS+[note 1]
MPEG-4 Visual
MPEG-4 AVC
AVS2[note 1]
MPEG-H HEVC
Audio
Hidden signals
  1. ^ a b Also used in China's DVB-S/S2 network.
  2. ^ a b Defuncted.
Technical issues