The 40-year history of high definition television technology is traced from initial studies in Japan, through its deployment in Europe, and then to the United States, where the first all-digital systems were developed. Details are provided about advances in HDTV technology in Australia and Japan, Europe's introduction of HDTV, Brazil's innovative use of MPEG-4 and China's terrestrial standard. The impact of HDTV on broadcast facility conversion and the influx of computer systems and information technology are described, as well as the contributions of the first entrepreneurial HD videographers and engineers. This volume highlights several of the landmark high-definition broadcasts from 1988 onward and also features more than 50 anecdotal interviews. The history concludes with the rollout of consumer HDTV services over terrestrial, cable and satellite systems throughout the world.