HD-TV

The move by the SABC to go to digital signals by 2011 has caused some confusion in the marketplace, with many consumers who believe it will be HD broadcasting and they will need to buy HD-capable televisions in future.

"The SABC's digital move makes no difference to the picture quality," said Brad Buchanan, group buyer at Game. "Broadcasters benefit because digital signals make better use of their bandwidth, enabling more channels to be viewed."

Imagine watching a sporting event and being able to see the sweat trickling down the faces of the players. This no longer has to be a dream as the reality, in the form of high-definition television (HDTV), is here.

Andre Coetzee, national trainer and customer care consultant at Philips South Africa, said that anyone who has been in the market recently to buy a new television will have heard the term HDTV.

"Consumers are constantly bombarded with technical jargon that often seems meaningless, however, this is one buzz- word that as a consumer, you need to pay attention to.