television

Table of Contents

Introduction
The development of television systems
- Mechanical systems
- Electronic systems
- Colour television
- Digital television
Principles of television systems
- The television picture
  - Human perception of motion
  - Image analysis
    - Flicker
    - Resolution
    - Picture shape
    - Scanning
  - The scanning pattern
    - Interlaced lines
    - Deflection signals
    - Synchronization signals
  - The picture signal
    - Wave form
    - Distortion and interference
    - Bandwidth requirements
- Compatible colour television
  - Basic principles of compatible colour: The NTSC system
  - European colour systems
    - PAL
    - SECAM
- Digital television
- Television transmission and reception
  - Transmission
    - Generating the colour picture signal
    - The carrier signal
    - The sound signal
    - The television channel
    - Broadcast television
    - Cable television
    - Direct broadcast satellite television
    - Teletext
  - Reception
    - Basic receiver circuits
    - Controls
- Television cameras and displays
  - Camera image sensors
    - Electron tubes
    - Charge-coupled devices
  - Displays
    - Picture tubes
      Basic structure
      Electron guns
      Deflection coils
      Shadow masks and aperture grilles
    - Liquid crystal displays
    - Plasma display panels
- Video recording
  - Magnetic tape
  - Video discs
  - Special techniques
  - Flying spot scanner
  - Motion-picture recording
    - The continuous projector
    - The intermittent projector

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

John Logie Baird with television transmitter

production line for the RCA CT-100 television

picture tube aspect ratios for SDTV and HDTV

interlaced scanning for standard television display

wave form of vertical synchronization signal

For Students

television summary

television

Written by Donald G. Fink, David E. Fisher, A. Michael NollSee All

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 11, 2024 • Article History

colour television picture tube

See all media

Category: Science & Tech

Related Topics:: cable television; HDTV; V-chip; electronic television system; mechanical television system

See all related content →

Recent News

Mar. 9, 2024, 3:19 AM ET (The Standard)

Govt withdraws state adverts from radio, TVs in another mortal blow to media industry

Mar. 5, 2024, 4:34 AM ET (The Guardian)

Screen time robs average toddler of hearing 1,000 words spoken by adult a day, study finds

television (TV), a form of mass media based on the electronic delivery of moving images and sound from a source to a receiver. By extending the senses of vision and hearing beyond the limits of physical distance, television has had a considerable influence on society. Conceived in the early 20th century as a possible medium for education and interpersonal communication, it became by mid-century a vibrant broadcast medium, using the model of broadcast radio to bring news and entertainment to people all over the world. Television is now delivered in a variety of ways: “over the air” by terrestrial radio ...(100 of 20679 words)

Access the full article

Help support true facts by becoming a member.