An ironic twist to the growth in popularity of high tech High Definition TV in the US is the resurgence of accessories long considered to be relics of the pre-satellite and cable days – bunny ears and antennas.
According to a report in the US, bunny ears and external aerials are re-emerging as a consequence of their ability to offer the clearest images from high-def channels.
Interest in the age-old receivers - the modern versions of which are smaller and more powerful – peaked during the build up to the Superbowl, American Football’s final match of the season, which is the country’s most viewed sporting event. Sales in antennas went through the roof in the week leading up to the match, particularly amongst fans of the finalists, the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears.
The widely held belief by US consumers that antennas provide the best high-def pictures certainly holds some credence. The fact that high-def signals hog the capacity of their pipelines to a much greater extent than standard-def pictures means that cable and satellite TV operators compressor them, which is not necessary for broadcasters. It is thought that the forced compression degrades picture quality.
