Terminology » Other Wireless » NTSC vs PAL: Understanding TV Broadcasting Standards

NTSC vs PAL: Understanding TV Broadcasting Standards

video standard ntsc pal tv broadcasting video

This article explains the differences between NTSC and PAL television broadcasting standards.

NTSC

NTSC stands for National Television System Committee. It has the following characteristics:

  • Vertical Frequency: 60 Hz
  • Horizontal Frequency: 15.734 KHz
  • Bandwidth: 6 MHz
  • Frame Rate: 30 fps (frames per second)
  • Aspect Ratio: 720 x 480 pixels
  • Video Bandwidth Support: 4.2 MHz
  • Region: Primarily used in North America, Japan, and Korea.

PAL

PAL stands for Phase Alternation by Line. Its characteristics include:

  • Vertical Frequency: 50 Hz
  • Horizontal Frequency: 15.625 KHz
  • Bandwidth: Approximately 7-8 MHz
  • Frame Rate: 25 fps (frames per second)
  • Aspect Ratio: 720 x 576 pixels
  • Video Bandwidth Support: 5 MHz
  • Region: Widely used in Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia.

Notably, a PAL signal can be decoded using two NTSC decoders.