VK3KHB
International TV Formats

The below chart / list is no longer accurate and is provided as historical reference information from circa 1980-90's. Australia's analogue television standard format was is PAL(B), other countries use one of three standards NTSC, PAL or SECAM. These standards are not compatible with each other and there are variations "( )" within each standard. The basic difference between all three standards is picture colour information and lines per frame.

NTSC"National Television Standards Committee"
a U.S.A defined standard declared circa 1953.
PAL"Phase Alternation Line" a European defined standard.
SECAM "Sequential Couleur a Memoire" a French defined standard.

All three systems transmit different "colour and line standards", NTSC: 525, PAL: 625, SECAM (now): 625. All can be received in monochrome on old Black & White receivers and with most post made 1999 colour TV receivers. As the world converts to DiGiTaL TV these analogue standards will become obsolete and you may notice the standards to country reflect 20th century super-power alliances or "spheres of influence", something DiGiTaL will mask out...

Press "Ctrl F" to do searches with in this page.