1) TV Formats & Frame Rates

Before 4k and HD became the standard formats, broadcasters around the world used three key terms which dictated the frame rates and resolutions used for programme making - PAL, NTSC & SECAM. These formats were used in different parts of the world but overtime have become more aligned. 

The advent of digital broadcasting and streaming have made these terms less relevant but they still have an impact on the industry and even the equipment we use. 

Even the Canon cameras used in college still offer PAL & NTSC options in the settings and it's vital that you use the correct one when filming - PAL at 25 frames per second.

• Although PAL (UK) and NTSC (US) are no longer used in digital TV but still affect frame rates and DVD/Blu-ray playback.

• HD & 4K have replaced SD, but frame rate differences persist (25/50fps UK vs 30/60fps US).

• Streaming and modern devices now handle regional differences automatically.

THE PAST: Legacy TV Broadcast Formats

PAL (UK & Europe)

• Resolution: 720×576 (576i, Standard Definition)

• Frame Rate: 25 fps (50 Hz power grid)

• Key Features: Higher resolution and better colour stability than NTSC.

• Used In: UK, Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa.

NTSC (US & Japan)

• Resolution: 720×480 (480i, Standard Definition)

• Frame Rate: 29.97 fps (60 Hz power grid)

• Key Features: Smoother motion but lower resolution and prone to colour inconsistencies.

• Used In: USA, Canada, Japan, South America.

CURRENT STANDARDS: Modern Digital Formats

HD (High Definition) – 720p / 1080i / 1080p

• UK (DVB-T2 standard):

  • Resolution: 1920×1080 (1080i)

  • Frame Rate: 25 fps or 50 fps (matches PAL legacy frame rate)

  • Used In: Freeview HD, Sky HD, BBC iPlayer.

• US (ATSC standard):

  • Resolution: 1280×720 (720p) or 1920×1080 (1080i/p)

  • Frame Rate: 30 fps or 60 fps (matches NTSC legacy frame rate)

  • Used In: Cable, satellite, terrestrial digital TV.

4K UHD (Ultra High Definition)

• Resolution: 3840×2160 (4 times HD resolution)

• Frame Rate: 24 fps, 30 fps, 50 fps, or 60 fps depending on content

• UK & US Differences:

  • UK (50Hz region): Sky Q, BBC iPlayer, Netflix support 50fps UHD.

  • US (60Hz region): Netflix, Hulu, and broadcast TV favour 30fps & 60fps UHD.

• Supported On: Streaming services, 4K Blu-ray, modern TVs.

OTHER FORMS OF DELIVERY: 

• DVDs & Blu-ray: UK PAL DVDs (576i, 25fps) won’t play on standard US NTSC players (480i, 30fps) unless region-free.

• Streaming Services (Netflix, YouTube, Disney+): Automatically adjust frame rate and resolution based on the region and device.

• Gaming Consoles & PCs: Most modern games and displays support multiple frame rates (30, 50, 60, 120fps), removing PAL/NTSC issues.