A New Algorithm May Facilitate Transition to Digital TV.

• Author: Tiron, Roxana
• Position: Brief Article

Scientists at the Energy Department's Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a technology that could ease the transition from analog television to high-definition television (HDTV)--the format for TV signals that Congress mandated by 2006.

The new transmission algorithm will compress a HDTV data stream in such a manner that it will allow HDTV and analog TV signals to be broadcast over the same channel. "It permits broadcasting television networks to avoid spending millions of dollars on transmission systems for both analog and HDTV signals," said George Nickel, the developer of the algorithm. Nickel says such savings could bring about a faster acceptance of the digital technology.

Broadcasters won't have to simulcast two distinct signals on two different channels, because the compression technology allows both digital and analog TV sets to receive signals compatible to each...