Safest bet for now - getting a HD-Ready TV

If you are going to buy a HDTV now, your best bet is to get one with the "HD-Ready" logo. This logo looks like this http://www.eicta.org/press.asp?level2=24&level1=6&level0=1&year=2005&docid=398

The exact requirements for Tvs to get the HD-Ready Mark is as follows:

1. Display, display engine
· The minimum native resolution of the display or display engine is 720
physical lines in wide aspect ratio.

2. Video Interfaces
· The display device accepts HD input via:
o Analogue YPbPr1, and
o DVI or HDMI
· HD capable inputs accept the following HD video formats:
o 1280x720 @ 50 and 60Hz progressive (“720p”), and
o 1920x1080 @ 50 and 60Hz interlaced (“1080i”)
· The DVI or HDMI input supports content protection (HDCP)

http://www.eicta.org/files/LicenseAgreement-153205A.pdf page 11

Now, what it means is that when you buy a LCD or plasma Tv with this logo, all of the basic requirements to get HD content is met. (at least in theory). It's a little more complicated actually, but we''ll leave it as that for now.