2. What Makes A Program

The difference between 720p and 1080i is not large, but easily noticeable. Most made-for-HD content is now available in 1080i; this includes virtually all programming on HDNet, Mojo HD, Discovery HD, and so forth. In fact, 720p content is becoming increasingly rare.

HDNet is the exclusive HD channel for shuttle launch coverage, offering guaranteed breathtaking shots.

Something that is especially obvious in live broadcasts is that some high definition shows will include camera shots that are not in HD, or are not of the same resolution as other cameras. This is most often seen in local sports coverage, where non-essential camera shots show up much less clearly. Local news coverage in a lot of markets, by the same token, will also often go back and forth between standard definition, top tier high definition, and somewhere in between.

The last point to make is the source of the content itself. While it may be an easy cop out to blame different technical specs and video equipment for lousier pictures, a lot of it also has to do with what’s being filmed. Tune to any HD-exclusive channel right now and there’s a better-than-50% chance that it’ll be showing something outdoors. An in-studio production has a much more difficult time creating awe-inspiring visuals than a show that just shoots an unchanged outside view, mainly because a studio needs to have specific lighting, viewing angles, and just generally a more constrained view.