If you already receive the National Geographic Channel it does not mean you will automatically get it in HD. The HD channel distribution is separate. To subscribe to the National Geographic Channel HD, please check with your local cable provider for more information.

Are the programs and schedules the same on both channels?

Yes! You can enjoy all your favorite National Geographic channel shows on the HD channel! The schedule is identical for both channels (HD and SD).

What channel is it on?

The channel that the National Geographic Channel airs on varies by cable provider. The same is true for HD. To find out which channel airs the National Geographic Channel HD, please refer to the NGC SERVICE FINDER located on this page or check with your local cable provider for more information.

What is HDTV?

High-definition television, or HDTV, is the ultimate home entertainment experience, bringing sound and picture quality to a whole new level. The image quality is 4.5 times greater than that of an ordinary television, creating lifelike images with crisp, high-resolution detail guaranteed to impress its viewers time and time again. With 5.1 separate channels of surround sound engulfing the room, it brings a total theater experience straight into your home. HDTV is 100 percent digital, so there's never any chance of image distortion or disruption.

What is 5.1 surround sound?

HDTV's capability for Dolby Digital surround sound, coming from every angle, enhances HDTV's cinematic quality. The encoding, decoding and playback system produces an audio experience for HDTV viewers that places them squarely in the on-screen action. At the heart of 5.1 are five separate speakers: front left, right, center, rear left, and right. Digital 5.1 also includes a subwoofer enabling you to feel and hear bass tones. In fact, the "1" in 5.1 refers to the subwoofer. The result is theater quality sound in your home.

What am I seeing now, if it's not in HD?

If you get the National Geographic Channel, but do not yet receive the National Geographic Channel HD, you are watching either a digital broadcast of standard-definition television (SDTV) or an analog broadcast. To send a digital stream of information to your television set, a TV station takes tiny slices of the video image, assigns a numeric value to describe each slice, and mathematically encodes those values into equations. A traditional analog transmission, in contrast, has a more direct relationship to the pictures you watch. SDTV signals have 480 active scan lines, just like traditional analog signals, so they are not much sharper than analog. The format does have clearer sound and a picture free of interference, however.

What is 720p and 1080i?

In the United States, there are two transmission standards for HDTV: 720p and 1080i. In a 720p display there are 720 individual horizontal lines, each with 1,280 pixels. Likewise, in a 1080i display, there are 1,080 horizontal scan lines in a picture, with 1,920 individual pixels. The letters "p" and "i" refer to how the lines are presented on-screen. The letter "p" stands for progressive scan, meaning the display writes to screen one after another (line No. 1, line No. 2, line No. 3... line No. 720). The letter "i" stands for interlaced scan, meaning the odd-numbered lines are written first (1,3,5,1079), and then the even lines (2,4,6,1080). The process happens so quickly that before the light emanating from the odd-number lines has completely faded, the even-numbered lines have been scanned, and vice versa.

What equipment do I need to see the channel in HD?

An HD-enabled unit is the only piece of equipment you'll need. Standard television sets do not have the ability to generate the image quality of HD. Depending on your individual needs and specific circumstances, including room layout, budget, and priorities, there are several options to choose from. Flat-panel LCDs and plasmas offer the best space-saving solution; however they tend to be more expensive than other alternatives. Rear-projection systems offer relatively large images at more affordable prices, but they may not fit into certain rooms due to their size. Front projectors offer the biggest HDTV images, but conditions such as room brightness can limit their full potential in certain spaces. At the end of the day, room size, lighting conditions and budget will help you to make your choice.

National Geographic Channel HD has the best animals, nature, history, science, culture and adventure programming on television. Learn more about the benefits of high-definition (HD) television and further details about Nat Geo HD.