| It is kind of funny, but it seems like in no time at all | | | | States since the early 1990s, and officially became a |
| HD televisions, channels and all related technology | | | | new viewing format in 1998, seen with the live |
| came out of nowhere. One day, people were | | | | broadcast of John Glenn's space mission. From there, |
| content living with their normal television sets, | | | | its grasp slowly expanded, originally influencing the |
| watching football games and all other types of | | | | DVD market before breaking out into society with |
| programming and then all of the sudden this new | | | | flat screen televisions. Now, both television services |
| type of television viewing experience came out, | | | | – cable and satellite – offer a slew of |
| causing people to second guess their happiness. | | | | channels catering to people with and without the new |
| Suddenly, watching sports on an old set or even the | | | | viewing formats. Whether it is movies, news, |
| nightly news was no longer satisfactory. Individuals | | | | sit-coms, football or basketball games, people are |
| began to notice how blurry channels were even | | | | tuning in and seeing all of their favorite programs in a |
| though they had 20/20 vision. Soon after, the | | | | manner that they never thought possible. In fact, |
| constant advertisements, news articles and occasional | | | | people who happen to glance at an old television set |
| exposure to the new technology exploded into | | | | have no idea how they were able to utilize it for as |
| mainstream society. Now, everyone has some form | | | | long as they did. |
| of high definition, flat screen television set. It has | | | | But the development does not stop there. Now, with |
| become the new standard; anyone with an old set is | | | | all the hype and craze of 3D at the cinemas, cable |
| seen as being not "with it." | | | | and satellite TV companies have set their eyes on |
| The fact of the matter is, however, that the | | | | transitioning 3D from the big screen to little screen. |
| technology has actually been around for quite some | | | | Certain networks, specifically Discovery and ESPN, |
| time, continually being developed and ameliorated to | | | | have already signed agreements and are currently |
| become what it is today. Since the 1970s, companies | | | | transitioning their programming to fit the new format. |
| and individuals have worked on digital compression | | | | Plus, if all goes as planned, the 2010 South African |
| technologies, which in essence are the backbone of | | | | World Cup will have its first match, South Africa |
| the new format. Even in the 1990s, however, the | | | | versus Mexico, broadcasted internationally in 3D, |
| actual viewing technology of this digitally compressed | | | | allowing fans to get up close and personal with |
| data was not up to par with the requirements, thus | | | | soccer in a way never thought possible. |
| delaying any immediate achievements within the | | | | Granted, television has come a long way since its |
| television industry. Nevertheless, once the economic | | | | initial invention to the viewing formats that exist now. |
| and developmental factors caught up, the consumer | | | | But with 3D being actively developed, there is no |
| market was more than ready to embrace the new | | | | telling what the next step will be and in which |
| technology. | | | | direction it will head. All anyone can do now is just |
| High definition has actually existed within the United | | | | wait and see. |