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This chart shows the most common display resolutions, 720p being one of the 16:9 formats shown in dark green.


The number 720 stands for the 720 horizontal scan lines of image display resolution (also known as 720 pixels of vertical resolution), while the letter p stands for progressive scan (i.e. non-interlaced).[1] When broadcast at 60[note 1] frames per second, 720p features the highest temporal (motion) resolution possible under the ATSC and DVB standards. The term assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, thus implying a resolution of 1280 px × 720 px (0.9 megapixels).

720i (720 lines interlaced) is an erroneous term found in numerous sources and publications. Typically, it is a typographical error in which the author is referring to the 720p HDTV format. However, in some cases it is incorrectly presented as an actual alternative format to 720p.[3] In fact, no proposed or existing broadcast standard permits 720 interlaced lines in a video frame at any frame rate.[4]

Comparison with 1080i[edit]


A 720p60 (720p at 60 Hz) video has advantage over 480i and 1080i60 (29.97/30 frame/s, 59.94/60 Hz) in that it comparably reduces the number of 3:2 artifacts introduced during transfer from 24 frame/s film. However, 576i and 1080i50 (25 frame/s, 50 Hz), which are common in Europe, generally do not suffer from pull down artifacts as film frames are simply played at 25 frames and the audio pitch corrected by 25/24ths. As a result, 720p60 is used for US broadcasts while European HD broadcasts often use 1080i50 (25 frame/s, 50 Hz), with a horizontal resolution of 1920 or 1440 depending on bandwidth constraints. However, some European broadcasters do use the 720p50 format, such as German broadcasters ARD and ZDF, the Flemish Broadcasting Company (VRT) in Belgium, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) and Spanish Radio and Television Corporation (TVE HD). Arte, a dual-language French-German channel produced in collaboration by ARD, ZDF and France Télévisions, broadcasts in German at 720p50 but in French at 1080i50.


  1. ^ It is often actually broadcast at 60/1.001 frame/s, which is approximately 59.94.[2]

See also[edit]


  2. ^ Hoffner, Randy (2008-01-09). "Will the End of NTSC Be the End of 59.94?". TVTechnology: Will the End of NTSC Be the End of 59.94?. Retrieved 2010-10-08. 
  4. ^ "ATSC Standard: Video System Characteristics of AVC in the ATSC Digital Television System". 2008-07-29. Retrieved 2011-07-24. 
  6. ^ "720p". CNET Glossary. Retrieved 2010-10-08. 

External links[edit]