Receivers of broadcast digital television (DTV) service operate in an often difficult environment of electrical interference, multiple other TV signals in close frequency proximity, multipath, wide dynamic range input signals, and uncertain antenna choice and installation. Receivers must demodulate and decode the signal and optimize its processing for different display technologies-a process that can include format conversion between progressive and interlaced scanning and different screen pixel counts. Data that supports the new services enabled by digital transmission must be decoded and processed. Receiver designers must implement the required functions cost-effectively even as they strive to provide performance and feature differentiation from their competitors' products. This paper describes all of the DTV receiver functions and references the associated standards. Emphasis is given to the difficult areas of signal reception and demodulation and to sections of the receiver that enable attractive and recognizable consumer features.

The basic concepts of the transport layer of the ATSC digital television system, including multiplexing, timing, and synchronization, are presented. Constraints on and extensions to the MPEG-2 Systems standard are discussed, including the important extension that adds Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP). Transport related aspects of private data carriage and conditional access are also described.