Should you invest in HDTV? Is it really worth it? Your answer will be determined by a number of factors, most significantly how good you think it is and how easily you can access it.

Simply put, HDTV is a new type of television service that requires the purchase of a High Definition TV tuner and HD-capable display. These two items when combined give the viewer access to HDTV.

The chief reason why HDTV pictures look considerably clearer and crisper than standard TV is the higher resolution of images transmitted to the screen. Normal TV pictures only have 480 lines of vertical resolution, while the most common HDTV's have 1,080-line interlaced scan and 720-line progressive scan.

What does that mean? A clearer, crisper and more vibrant image, less of the blur you can get with analog TV. Sound is also a significant factor. Set up with the right home cinema equipment you can rival your local movie theater for knock your socks off sound. But this may be not what you need for watching the news, so you don't have to have all the all-singing sub woofers to appreciate HDTV.

Any new television, whether plasma, LCD or other will be HDTV compatible and some tuners are available already internally fitted or you can choose an external set top box. A HDTV tuner can obtain both analog and digital over-the-air broadcasts so you don't need to miss out on a program if it isn't available in HD.

Getting started in High Definition is becoming easier, as prices of both tuners and HDTV systems continue to drop and the quality of products constantly improving. Not only that but the range of programs offered in free to air and paid for cable TV services is increasing. Most channels have to the option to view in HD now.

If you're wondering about watching movies on your HDTV you will defiantly notice the difference watching Blu Ray movies. Like HDTV, Blu Ray is a HD format and the image and sound are clearer than DVD.

Switching to HDTV can seem confusing but take the time to learn the basics and you will find you don't need much to appreciate all it has to offer.