Tips on Buying andUsing a New TV and Trends in

TV Viewing

Fairfax CountyCommunications Policy and

Regulation DivisionMarch 6, 2017

IntroductionTopics:–Tips on Buying and Using a New TV (Allan Hide)

–Trends in TV Viewing (Rick Ellrod)Including:Video over the Internet (OTT)TV using an antenna over the air (OTA)

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Tips on Buying a New TVAre you considering buying a new high-definitiondigital TV?

Prices have come down dramatically in recent years.Digital TV pictures are clearer, sharper, brighter. Theycome with more vibrant colors and better contrastthan ever.

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Tips on Buying a New TV#6 What types of TV display are currently available?

o LED

o OLED

o LARGELY GONE – Plasmas, LCD’s4

LED TV is a type of LCD television that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to backlight the displayinstead of the cold cathode fluorescent lights(CCFLs) used in standard LCD televisions. LEDTVs are more formally known as LED-backlightLCD television.

OLED (organic light-emitting diode) uses anorganic substance that glows when an electriccurrent is introduced. This revolutionary materialis part of a new design approach that drasticallyreduces the thickness and weight of the TV.The light passes through a combination of filtersto reproduce spectacular high-definition images.

Tips on Buying a New TV

# 11 LED (Light Emitting Diode) Configurations

o LED – Edgelit (okay)o LED – Backlit (better)o LED – Edgelit with local dimming (local dimming automatically

adjusts brightness “zones” and black levels) (better)o LED – Backlit with local dimming (better)o OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) (very best)

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Tips on Buying a New TV#2. Important:720p vs. 1080p vs. 4K or UHDDigital TV display formats include “720p”, “1080p” or “4K”.Note that both 720p and 1080p sets are labelled as being“high definition” or “HD” or “HDTV.” 4K may also be labeledUHD (“Ultra HD”).When buying a TV be careful to learn exactly what theresolution number is, as the resolution is important…

(continued on next slide)

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Tips on Buying a New TV#2 (cont.) Important:Resolution of 480i vs 720p vs. 1080p vs 4K /UHD

SDTV (older analog or standard definition480i TV) 704 x 480 pixels = 0.33 million pixels

HD 720p: 1280 x 720 pixels = 0.922 million pixels

FULL HD 1080p: 1920 x 1080 pixels = 2.074 million pixels

UHD or 4K: 3840 x 2160 pixels = 8.3 million pixels

Note p is better than i : p means “progressive” and i means “interlaced”7

Tips on Buying a New TV#10 How Large a Screen Do You Need?

An old 32 inch 4:3 screen is25.6” wide and 19.2” tall.Need a digital 43 inch 16:9 screen(36.6 “ wide and 20.6” tall) to get equivalent.

o 3-4 ft away from TV need a 28” to 32” screeno 4.5-5.5ft 46”to 55” screeno 6-7ft 46”-55” Screeno 7.5-8.5ft 57”-60” Screeno 9ft 65”-72” ScreenCalculation: Measure distance in inches to TV and divide by 1.5 = diagonal size of setyou may buy. E.g., 7 ft = 84”; 84”divided by 1.5 is 55” approx. diagonal size

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Tips on Buying a New TV#5 HDR (High Dynamic Range)HDR greatly increases the range of color, brightness and contrast on a TV. HDRtherefore provides a more realistic image.

Modern cameras can pick up huge amounts of detail about color, brightness andcontrast, but normal TVs do not have the capability to show this detail. HDR ratedTVs are able show this detail better.

TV brightness - A normal TV puts out around 100 - 300 nits of brightness, where onenit (derived from the Latin for ‘to shine’) is equivalent to one candle. An HDR TV canin theory get up to 5,000 nits. HDR TVs can also show a huge range of colors (widecolor gamut and color depth).

Note: Not all 4K Ultra HD TVs that claim HDR or to be “HDR compatible” will offerthe fullest benefit in picture quality. In some cases, the label may simply mean theTVs will be able to play HDR content, but the picture quality won't improve. .9

Tips on Buying a New TV#5 HDR (High Dynamic Range)

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Pictures courtesy of Best Buy

Tips on Buying a New TV#5 HDR (High Dynamic Range)

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Tips on Buying a New TV#7 Important - Screen Speed or Screen Refresh Rate (Hz)

Hz or “Hertz” rating for TV is the rate at which a screen refreshes.Quickly moving objects or sports action can appear jerky or blur if therefresh rate is too slow.

o 60Hz Okay

o 120Hz Much better than 60Hz

o 240Hz Best

#8 Hz - Watch out for misleading terminology on packages suchas “120 Hz Clear Motion Rate”, or 120HZ Clear Scan Rate or 120Hz effective Refresh Rate (likely only a 60HZ rate).

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Tips on Buying a New TV

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#7 Continued Comparing HZ (Hertz)

60 HZ

120 HZ

Tips on Buying a New TV

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“Premium” 4K TVs With 4K HDR Badge

Tips on Buying a New TV

“UHD Premium Standard” or “4K Premium Standard”Like good ice cream, TVs too can have a “Premium” Standard. The UHD Allianceagreed a Premium Standard TV should at a minimum:

• Meet or exceed a 4K resolution• Be HDR rated• Support 10-bit color depth• Have BT.2020 color space representation• Have more than 1,000 nits of brightness• Speed of at least 120HZ• and superior audio quality.

This UHD premium standard has been adopted by a number of companies, includingSamsung, Dolby, LG, Panasonic. These companies are members of the UHDalliance.

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Tips on Buying a New TVWhere Can One Get 4K (or High Dynamic Range) Content?• Netflix: $12 per month. Limited 4K shows available (e.g., House of

Cards)• YouTube: Free (limited selection)• Amazon Prime: Included with a $99 per year Prime Membership, plus

select titles for rental or purchase around $20 to $30• Xfinity: (Comcast) free to Xfinity TV subscribers• Sony’s Ultra Streaming Services: ($30 per movie purchased)• Fandango Now: $7 per rental (approx. $25 per purchase)• Google Play: $3.99 rent, $14.99 buy• Satellite: DirecTV, $4 to $16 per movie title on demand; Dish, $8 per title• Vudu: $10 for rental, $20 for purchase

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Tips on Buying a New TV

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#6, #13, #15 Added Features: Curved Screens, SmartTV and 3D

Tips on Buying a New TV

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#19 Improving the SoundInclude: Sound Bars,5.1 surround sound,sub woofers (bass), 360degree audio speakers,Also wireless (Wi-Fi andBluetooth)

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OlderHDMIoutlets

External Devices

The

When you buy a new 4K TV look for the latest HDMI connectionoutlets on the back of the TV called “HDCP2.2 Outlets” which

will support 4K content from 4K devices being attached (like theRoku 4K streaming media player).

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OlderHDMIoutlets

LatestHDMIoutletsthatsupport4K

External Devices

Tips on Buying a New TVNeed to Get Rid of your Older TV?

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Free drop-off ofTVs andelectronics atWest Ox RoadTransfer Stationand I-95 LortonLandfill Sites

TV Over the Internet

Frederick E. Ellrod IIIDirector, Fairfax County

Communications Policy and Regulation DivisionMarch 6, 2017

Trend Toward Video Over the Internet

Most people have received video over cable in thepast 30 yearsSources of dissatisfaction with cable:

RatesCustomer servicePackaging of programs or channels (vs. “à la carte”)

Therefore other sources for video are developing,including “over-the-top” (OTT) (video over theInternet)

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Over-the-Top Video (OTT) or Internet VideoOTT is often referred to as "over-the-top" because these services ride ontop of the service you already get and don't require any business /technical affiliations with your cable provider - except for the Internetservice to your homeOTT is streaming video (movies, TV shows, clips, etc.) over the Internet.Includes YouTube (free), Netflix ($), Hulu ($), Amazon (some free ifmember). On-demand vs. live programming.Original content offered. E.g., Netflix’s House of Cards, Orange is theNew Black, Game of Thrones (HBO Now or HBO Go (via cable provider)Millennials sometimes “cord-cutters” or “cord-nevers” and often accessOTT; but many access OTT in addition to cable serviceTrend is toward watching TV via OTT

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Over-the-Top VideoMany sources: General content -Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, iTunesOTT packages (similar to Cable “Tier”Packages):

YouTube TV (expected this month): $35 Live local TV in citiesHulu (similar package to YouTube): expected later this yearSony PlayStation Vue: $30/month live local TV in select citiesDirecTV (by AT&T): $35/month incl. live local in cities (3/3/2017)Dish’s Sling TV (with ESPN): $20 (1/2015)HBO Now: $15 (10/2014)CBS All Access: $6 (10/2014)Nickelodeon: Noggin preschool app, $6 (1/2015)Showtime: $11 ($8 via Hulu) (6/2015)Apple TV: on hold for now 25

Roku’s ad for Sling TV

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External Devices That Get You TV over the Internet

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Laptops

Smart TVs Blu-Ray or Ti-VoPlayers

ChromecastSticks

Game Boxes

Roku Apple TV Amazon Fire

Roku TVs(Smart)

Over-the-Top Video from the Cable CompanyComcast, Cox, Verizon operate in Fairfax CountyCox Contour (in home) and Cox “tve” TV Everywhere (home) and TV Online;Verizon’s “Watch FiOS Now”; and Comcast’s “TVGo” allow streaming ofchannels online and on demand

Comcast: http://tvgo.xfinity.com/watch-live-tvCox: https://www.cox.com/residential/tv/tv-apps.html?sc_id=cr_dm_camp_z_tveverywhere_vanity

Verizon: www.verizon.com/tvonlineComcast has other initiatives:– “Stream” $15 (for its broadband customers - 28 channels) – Boston trial– “Watchable” no need to be a customer (Internet content, not TV channels)– “Seeso” (comedy channel, 1/2016, $4)

Verizon: “Go90” app - Free for now, Internet content, some live sports28

Smart TVs to Get Internet TV Programming

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To get Netflix on a Smart TV, select the Netflix icon

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How Does Netflix Look?

Where will OTT go?

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How Does Hulu Look?

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How Does YouTube Look?

ROKU Smart TVs

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ROKU has also placed its streaming media player facilities directly into TV sets (similar to a smart TV)instead of having to hook up a ROKU device separately. TV Manufacturers of the “ROKU TV” include -Haier, Hisense, Insignia, Sharp.Pros: Cheaper than main brand smart TVs. Supports 4K content, easy to use to get Internet content.Cons: When switch the TV on, one goes automatically to the screen as above and not directly to a channel.Also, the latest Roku device doesn’t support HDR content (as of 3/3/2017).

Pros and Cons of OTTOTT still requires Internet serviceNeeds a robust Internet connectionPricing –Must add cost of Internet service tocost of chosen OTT contentData caps may be an issueReal time programming currently hard toaccess using OTT – especially livebroadcast TV– Some sites require a cable subscription

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Trending: Virtual Reality (VR)

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Virtual Reality (VR)VR seeks to create what appears to be a life-size, 3Dvirtual environment without the boundaries we usuallyassociate with TV or computer screensMany potential applications: real estate, education,gaming, touring“How does wearable tech make you think you'restanding on Mars when you're actually about to bumpinto the kitchen counter?”

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Virtual Reality (VR)Most current VR headsets fall into one of twocategories:

High- end dedicated headsets (Vive, Oculus Rift,PlayStation VR, etc.) that connect to a console or PCSmartphone holders (Samsung Gear VR, GoogleCardboard, etc.).

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Virtual Reality (VR)

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These lenses focus and reshape the picture for each eye and create a stereoscopic 3D image byangling the two 2D images to mimic how each of our eyes views the world slightly differently..

Virtual Reality (VR)

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Search You Tube “Swissair Virtual Reality 360°”View using Laptop with Google Chrome browser or smart phone

Virtual Reality (VR) –360o Cameras

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VR Cameras

Over-the-Air (OTA) TVJune 12, 2009: FCC-mandated switch from analog to digitalsignals for local broadcast stations such as WETA,NBC, ABC,UNIVISIONWith new digital technology, broadcast TV pictures appearcrisp, not “snowy”Can receive either High Definition (HD) TV or Standarddefinition channels. For example:

Channel 7 – WJLA, ABC7.1 HD7.2 SD Me-TV7.3 WJLA CMT 42

TV Set NeededDigital TVTo receive HD signals, need an HDTV (720p or 1080p)

Analog TVRequires digital-to-analog converter box

Digital TVs are typically thin and lighter, analog TVswider and heavier

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Antenna NeededThe higher the better

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Rooftop antennas/mastsMUST BE GROUNDED!!

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Antenna should be pointed in right direction

TVFool.com, Antennaweb.org, AntennaPoint.com

Need to scan for channelsGo to Menu – Change input to “Over the air”

Scan for available channels. Will only get local broadcastchannels – NOT HBO, History Channel, or similar cable-only channels

Rescan regularly, as channels are added frequently

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QuestionsCommunications Policy and RegulationDivision (assists with cable-related problems andcable safety and construction issues)

● Call: 703-324-5902● email: CPRD@FairfaxCounty.gov● Web: www.FairfaxCounty.gov/cable/

Consumer Affairs Branch - (incl. cable billing andall complaints against a business in the County)

● Call for advice: 703-222-8435● File complaints: www.FairfaxCounty.gov/

consumer/complaints.htm