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Details of 480p

480p means that the resolution of the picture is 480 vertical pixels by 852 horizontal pixels, and p stands for progressive scanning. Although 480p is a wide-screen format, it is not considered a high-definition format. It is related to EDTV and today's DVDs.

Details...

480p is the shorthand name for a video display resolution. The p stands for progressive scan, i.e. non-interlaced, while the 480 denotes a vertical resolution of 480 vertical scanning lines, usually with a horizontal resolution of 640 pixels and 4:3 aspect ratio on standard-definition television (SDTV), or a horizontal resolution of 854 pixels and 16:9 aspect ratio on high-definition television (HDTV). 480p is not high enough to qualify as HDTV; it is considered Enhanced-definition television (EDTV). The frame rate is usually 30 or 60 hertz and can be given explicitly after the letter.

480p24 and 480p30

The ATSC digital television standards define 480p with either 704x480 (non-square sampling) or 640x480 (square sampling) pixel resolutions, at 24, 30, or 60 Hertz frame rates. A 16:9 aspect ratio is defined at 720x480 pixels, using non-square, anamorphic sampling.

Both 480p24 and 480p30 are more common in countries that use or have used the interlaced NTSC system like North America and Japan (these formats are somewhat compatible with that system, when used to broadcast progressive film content).

480p60 (480p59.94)

With doubled temporal resolution, 480p60 is considered enhanced-definition television (EDTV). It can be transported by both major digital television formats, ATSC and DVB.

SMPTE 293M defines a 480p59.94 standard with twice the data rate of Rec. 601, using 720x480 active pixels. ITU-R Rec. 601 is the specification for component digital interlaced video(480i) commonly used in standard definition television production.

See also

• 480i
• Enhanced-definition television (EDTV)