Video Broadcast Standards - NTSC PAL SECAM
Most countries around the World use one of three main Video Broadcast Standards. These three main standards are
NTSC - PAL and SECAM.
However, each standard is incompatible with the other. For example, a video recording made in the UK could not be played on
US standard VCR's or shown on the TV. The reason for this is that the UK Video Standard is PAL whereas the US Video Standard is NTSC.
To find out which Video Standard each country supports, take a look at our Worldwide Video Standards
Listing where we have also listed Mains Electricity Voltages and Frequencies together with DVD Region Codes for each country.
Want to know how Video Standards apply to DVD Discs and DVD players - Check out our new Region Free DVD Player Resource. It is a very common misconception that simply because a video
format is digital, as is the case of DVD's, it is no longer PAL or NTSC. All digital video formats, including DVD are still based on
the PAL or NTSC video systems.
The charts below give a description of each Video Standard and the technical variations within each.
For a more in depth look at the technical aspects of world television standards, take a look at Bevis King's excellent
Worldwide TV Standards - A Web Guide
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NTSC - National Television System Committee
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The first colour TV broadcast system was implemented in the United States in 1953. This was based on the NTSC -
National Television System Committee standard. NTSC is used by many countries on the American continent as well as many
Asian countries including Japan.
NTSC runs on 525 lines/frame.
|
| SYSTEM |
NTSC M |
| Lines/Field |
525/60 |
| Horizantal Frequency |
15.734 kHz |
| Vertical Frequency |
60 Hz |
| Colour Subcarrier Frequency |
3.579545 MHz |
| Video Bandwidth |
4.2 MHz |
| Sound Carrier |
4.5 MHz |
| PAL - Phase Alternating Line |
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The PAL - Phase Alternating Line standard was introduced in the early 1960's and implemented in most European
countries except for France.
The PAL standard utilises a wider channel bandwidth than NTSC which allows for better picture quality.
PAL runs on 625 lines/frame.
|
| SYSTEM |
PAL B,G,H |
PAL I |
PAL D |
PAL N |
PAL M |
| Line/Field |
625/50 |
625/50 |
625/50 |
625/50 |
525/60 |
| Horizontal Frequency |
15.625 kHz |
15.625 kHz |
15.625 kHz |
15.625 kHz |
15.750 kHz |
| Vertical Frequency |
50 Hz |
50 Hz |
50 Hz |
50 Hz |
60 Hz |
| Colour Sub Carrier Frequency |
4.433618 MHz |
4.433618 MHz |
4.433618 MHz |
3.582056 MHz |
3.575611 MHz |
| Video Bandwidth |
5.0 MHz |
5.5 MHz |
6.0 MHz |
4.2 MHz |
4.2 MHz |
| Sound Carrier |
5.5 MHz |
6.0 MHz |
6.5 MHz |
4.5 MHz |
4.5 MHz |
| SECAM - Sequential Couleur Avec Memoire |
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The SECAM - Sequential Couleur Avec Memoire or Sequential Colour with Memory standard was introduced in the
early 1960's and implemented in France. SECAM uses the same bandwidth as PAL but transmits the colour information
sequentially.
SECAM runs on 625 lines/frame.
|
| SYSTEM |
SECAM B,G,H |
SECAM D,K,K1,L |
| Line/Field |
625/50 |
625/50 |
| Horizontal Frequency |
15.625 kHz |
15.625 kHz |
| Vertical Frequency |
50 Hz |
50 Hz |
| Video Bandwidth |
5.0 MHz |
6.0 MHz |
| Sound Carrier |
5.5 MHz |
6.5 MHz |
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