Tips on Buying and Using a New TV and Trends in TV Viewing

Fairfax County Communications Policy and Regulation Division March 6, 2017 Introduction Topics: –Tips on Buying and Using a New TV (Allan Hide) –Trends in TV Viewing (Rick Ellrod) Including: over the Internet (OTT) TV using an over the air (OTA)

2 Tips on Buying a New TV

Are you considering buying a new high-definition digital TV?

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

3 Tips on Buying a New TV #6 What types of TV display are currently available? LED TV is a type of LCD that uses light- o LED emitting diodes (LEDs) to the display instead of the cold cathode fluorescent lights (CCFLs) used in standard LCD . LED TVs are more formally known as LED-backlight LCD television.

OLED (organic light-emitting diode) uses an o OLED organic substance that glows when an electric current is introduced. This revolutionary material is part of a new design approach that drastically reduces the thickness and weight of the TV. The light passes through a combination of filters to reproduce spectacular high-definition images. o LARGELY GONE – Plasmas, LCD’s 4 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)

5 Tips on Buying a New TV #2. Important: vs. vs. 4K or UHD

Digital 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 labeled UHD (“Ultra HD”). When buying a TV be careful to learn exactly what the resolution number is, as the resolution is important… (continued on next slide)

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

SDTV (older analog or standard definition 480i 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 is 25.6” 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” screen o 4.5-5.5ft 46”to 55” screen o 6-7ft 46”-55” Screen o 7.5-8.5ft 57”-60” Screen o 9ft 65”-72” Screen Calculation: Measure distance in inches to TV and divide by 1.5 = diagonal size of set you may buy. E.g., 7 ft = 84”; 84”divided by 1.5 is 55” approx. diagonal size

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

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

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

Note: Not all 4K Ultra HD TVs that claim HDR or to be “HDR compatible” will offer the fullest benefit in picture quality. In some cases, the label may simply mean the

TVs 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)

Pictures courtesy of

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

11 Tips on Buying a New TV #7 Important - Screen Speed or Screen (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 the refresh 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 such as “120 Hz Clear Motion Rate”, or 120HZ Clear Scan Rate or 120 Hz effective Refresh Rate (likely only a 60HZ rate). 12 Tips on Buying a New TV #7 Continued Comparing HZ (Hertz)

120 HZ

60 HZ

13 Tips on Buying a New TV “Premium” 4K TVs With 4K HDR Badge

14 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 Alliance agreed a Premium Standard TV should at a minimum: • Meet or exceed a • 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, including , Dolby, LG, Panasonic. These companies are members of the UHD alliance.

15 Tips on Buying a New TV Where Can One Get 4K (or High Dynamic Range) Content? • : $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 • : () to Xfinity TV subscribers • Sony’s Ultra Streaming Services: ($30 per movie purchased) • Fandango : $7 per rental (approx. $25 per purchase) • : $3.99 rent, $14.99 buy • Satellite: DirecTV, $4 to $16 per movie title ; Dish, $8 per title • : $10 for rental, $20 for purchase

16 Tips on Buying a New TV #6, #13, #15 Added Features: Curved Screens, Smart TV and 3D

17 Tips on Buying a New TV #19 Improving the Sound Include: Sound Bars, 5.1 , sub woofers (bass), 360 degree audio speakers, Also wireless (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth)

18 External Devices

Older HDMI outlets

The

19 External Devices When you buy a new 4K TV look for the latest HDMI connection outlets on the back of the TV called “HDCP2.2 Outlets” which will support 4K content from 4K devices being attached (like the 4K player).

Older HDMI outlets Latest HDMI outlets that support 4K

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

Free drop-off of TVs and electronics at West Ox Road Transfer Station and I-95 Lorton Landfill Sites

21 TV Over the Internet

Frederick E. Ellrod III Director, Fairfax County Communications Policy and Regulation Division March 6, 2017 Trend Toward Video Over the Internet

Most people have received video over cable in the past 30 years Sources of dissatisfaction with cable: Rates Customer service Packaging of programs or channels (vs. “à la carte”) Therefore other sources for video are developing, including “over-the-top” (OTT) (video over the Internet)

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

24 Over-the-Top Video Many sources: General content - Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, iTunes OTT packages (similar to Cable “Tier” Packages): YouTube TV (expected this month): $35 Live local TV in cities Hulu (similar package to YouTube): expected later this year Sony PlayStation Vue: $30/month live local TV in select cities DirecTV (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) : 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

26 External Devices That Get You TV over the Internet Smart TVs Roku TVs(Smart) Blu-Ray or Ti-Vo Players

Roku Apple TV Amazon Fire

Game Boxes Sticks

27 Over-the-Top Video from the Cable Company Comcast, Cox, Verizon operate in Fairfax County Cox Contour (in home) and Cox “tve” TV Everywhere (home) and TV Online; Verizon’s “Watch FiOS Now”; and Comcast’s “TVGo” allow streaming of channels online and on demand Comcast: http://tvgo.xfinity.com/watch-live-tv

Cox: https://www.cox.com/residential/tv/tv-apps.html?sc_id=cr_dm_camp_z_tveverywhere_vanity Verizon: www.verizon.com/tvonline Comcast 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) – “” ( channel, 1/2016, $4) Verizon: “” app - Free for now, Internet content, some live sports

28 Smart TVs to Get Internet TV Programming

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

30 How Does Netflix Look?

31 How Does Hulu Look? Where will OTT go?

32 How Does YouTube Look?

33 ROKU Smart TVs

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 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). 34 Pros and Cons of OTT OTT still requires Internet service Needs a robust Internet connection Pricing –Must add cost of Internet service to cost of chosen OTT content Data caps may be an issue Real time programming currently hard to access using OTT – especially live broadcast TV – Some sites require a cable subscription

35 Trending: Virtual Reality (VR)

36 Virtual Reality (VR) VR seeks to what appears to be a life-size, 3D virtual environment without the boundaries we usually associate with TV or computer screens Many potential applications: real estate, education, gaming, touring “How does wearable tech make you think you're standing on Mars when you're actually about to bump into the kitchen counter?”

37 Virtual Reality (VR) Most current VR headsets fall into one of two categories: High- end dedicated headsets (Vive, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, etc.) that connect to a console or PC holders (Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard, etc.).

38 Virtual Reality (VR)

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

39 Virtual Reality (VR)

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

40 Virtual Reality (VR) – 360o Cameras

VR Cameras

41 Over-the-Air (OTA) TV June 12, 2009: FCC-mandated switch from analog to digital signals for local broadcast stations such as WETA,NBC, ABC, With new digital technology, broadcast TV pictures appear crisp, not “snowy” Can receive either High Definition (HD) TV or Standard definition channels. For example: Channel 7 – WJLA, ABC 7.1 HD 7.2 SD Me-TV

7.3 WJLA CMT 42 TV Set Needed

Digital TV To receive HD signals, need an HDTV (720p or 1080p)

Analog TV Requires digital-to-analog converter box

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

43 Antenna Needed The higher the better Rooftop antennas/masts MUST BE GROUNDED!!

44 Antenna should be pointed in right direction

TVFool.com, Antennaweb.org, AntennaPoint.com 45 Need to scan for channels

Go to Menu – Change input to “Over the air”

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

Rescan regularly, as channels are added frequently

46 Questions Communications Policy and Regulation Division (assists with cable-related problems and cable safety and construction issues) ● Call: 703-324-5902 ● email: [email protected] ● Web: www.FairfaxCounty.gov/cable/ Consumer Affairs Branch - (incl. cable billing and all complaints against a business in the County) ● Call for advice: 703-222-8435 ● File complaints: www.FairfaxCounty.gov/ consumer/complaints.htm