What is 1080p

1080p is the shorthand name for a category of HDTV video modes. The number 1080 represents 1,080 lines of vertical resolution (1,080 horizontal scan lines), while the letter p stands for progressive scan (meaning the image is not interlaced). 1080p can be referred to as full HD or full high definition although 1080i is also "Full HD" (1920x1080 pixels). The term usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a horizontal resolution of 1920 pixels. This creates a frame resolution of 1920×1080, or 2,073,600 pixels in total. The frame rate in hertz can be either implied by the context or specified after the letter p (or i), such as 1080p30, meaning 30 Hz.

A 1080p picture, with a resolution similar to that of 2K digital cinema technology, is sometimes referred to in marketing materials as "Complete High-Definition". However, 4K digital cinema technology is commercially available, and ultra-high definition video is in the research phase.

The meaning of 1080p as a display resolution is not correct because in fact 1920x1200/1920x1080 displays may or may not be able to display 1080p video. Use of 1080p and the closely related 1080i labels in consumer products may refer to a range of capabilities. For example, video equipment that up-scale to 1080p takes lower resolution material and reformats it for a higher resolution display. The image that results is different from the display of original 1080p source material on a native 1080p capable-display. Similarly, equipment capable of displaying both 720p and 1080i may in fact not have the capability to display 1080p or 1080i material at full resolution. It is common for this material to be downscaled to the native capability of the equipment. The term "native 1080p-capable" is sometimes used to refer to equipment capable of rendering 1080p fully.

1080p Production standards

The movie industry has embraced 1080p24 as a digital mastering format in both native 24p form and in 24PsF form. 1080p24 has become an established production standard for digital cinematography and there is plenty of equipment capable of capturing and processing 1080p24 signals. This may be the first universal video standard which transcends continental boundaries, an area previously reserved for 24-frame film.

For live broadcast applications, a high-definition progressive scan format operating at 1080p at 50 or 60 frames per second is currently being evaluated as a future standard for moving picture acquisition. This format will require a whole new range of studio equipment including cameras, storage, edit and contribution links (such as Dual-link HD-SDI and 3G-SDI) as it has doubled the data rate of current 50 or 60 fields interlaced 1920 × 1080 from 1.485 Gbit/s to nominally 3 Gbit/s. It will improve final pictures because of the benefits of "oversampling" and removal of interlacing artifacts.

Resolution output sources

1080p

1080i

720p

480p

480i

1920x1080

Lines of resolution

1920x1080

Lines of resolution

1280x720

Lines of resolution

852x480

Lines of resolution

480 Lines &

Under

Blu-ray Players

Playstation 3,Xbox360 , some on-demand sources.

Networks broadcast in 1080i, Includes: Discovery HD, NBC, CBS, PBS, Animal planet HD, The CW, A&E HD,  The food network HD, Golf Channel HD, HDNet, HGTV and more..

As you see Most Channels Broadcast in 1080i.

Networks Broadcast in 720p, Includes:

ESPNHD, ABC, FOX. Espn 2 Less channels Broadcast in 720p.

Progressive -scan DVD players

Standard Television broadcast

(SDTV), Non-progressive scan DVD players.