BBC describes HDTV: It's all about cars and passengers

No, really - when thinking about digital TV and HDTV, think 'car' and 'passenger'.

The BBC has used this analogy in its recent Q&A page. When answering the question "I thought digital TV gave me the best picture quality? What is the difference between digital and HDTV?" it writes:

Think of digital TV like a car and HDTV as a type of passenger.

Digital TV is the method of transmitting and receiving different television signals while HDTV is a format.

HDTV programming is received via digital TV - either through cable, satellite or terrestrial.

There are also plans to deliver HDTV via broadband connections.

So it seems the HDTV passenger can sit in many different types of car, though it's a pretty big, high-maintenance passenger that will only travel in premium cars - or possibly big, shiny new public buses. Freeview is like a clapped-out old mini that has no hope of chauffeuring Mr HDTV. Not unless its engine is totally stripped out and... well, yes, I think you get the idea.

Have I taken this analogy too far?

In any case, there seems to be an article about high-definition TV on the BBC website every day of late, and it's good to see them promoting the format - hopefully a fairly measured voice away from the TV showroom glamour.

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