Progressive

Progressive or progressive scan is basically an opposite to interlaced picture.

In standard, interlaced analog TV, the picture on TV is changed 50 or 60 times (50Hz in Europe/PAL systems and 60Hz in most NTSC systems, including the American one), but the picture contains only every other horizontal line and the line between is left "empty" -- and the next frame then contains only the horizontal lines missed in the last frame. So, therefor in interlaced picture, at 50Hz frequency, the picture actually changes only 25 times per second (so its framerate is 25fps).

But in progressive scan technology, every picture contains everything, so therefor 50Hz progressive scan video changes the picture 50 times per second, having the framerate of 50fps.

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Pain_Man 13 May, 2006 1:40
How can one be sure that the progressive signal is actually what is being seen? E.g.: I have my 5-disc Sony DVD/CD changer connected to my Panasonic HDTV. I have the DVD player set to progressive. The picture looks excellent. But is it actually displaying a "progressive" 50fps picture? Basically: if you set your DVD player to progressive and the DVD-Video can be seen does that mean the TV can display progressive signals or is the signal just being changed to interlaced?
winstonmn 6 September, 2007 16:06
First of all lets establish one thing from the start; most of the world uses ac power generated in 50Hz format. Most of North America the Carabean, Central and South America with a couple of exceptions, such as Argentina and Chile use the 60 Hz used in the throughout the US and it's various possessions as the State of Alaska, Canada and Mexico. Broadcasters in all these areas have adopted synchronization speeds taking advantage of their national distribution grid frequency and its high degree of stability and uniformity. This explains why PAL or SECAM are in use where the current generated is at 50 Hz therefore fixes the max rate at 50fps progressive and 25fps interlace mode. I did not see your original inquiry so I cannot be sure about your location, however, since the answer to the alledged question is only half answered, I thought I might serve someone else answer a related question. Lastly, whether your player renders a progressive output or not is not only dependent on the player but most importantly what is being player e.g. DVDs are not all recorder in Progressive mode. In fact the majority are release in standard interlaced mode and are not available in any other format. This of it as when you make sure that the DVD you are buying is 16:9 format or 4:3 format DVD only share media, how they are recorded, etc. can vary widely even in the commercial sector. Hope this will help you. Winstonmn
clubdave 22 March, 2008 13:55
Neither Canada nor Mexico are "various possessions" of the US, as indicated above. Please be careful of grammar as you may say something you don't mean.

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