By Craig K. Tanner, Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
The broadcast and cable television industries in North America are on the threshold of a new era. Seven organizations are competing to have their advanced television system concepts adopted as North American standards for transmission of either High Definition Television (HDTV) or for emission of improved or extended definition NTSC to consumers' homes. This paper will describe overall activities in this area, as well as CableLabs' preparations to conduct the rigorous technical tests of these systems that will be needed to protect the cable industry's interests in the era of advanced television. CableLabs is also embarking upon efforts to further the development of digital transmission of compressed NTSC signals over cable systems, a capability now widely recognized as having major strategic importance to the continued growth of our industry.