🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <7263@cg-atla.UUCP> welch@cg-atla.UUCP (John Welch) writes:
> SECAM stands for Systeme Electronique Couleur Avec Memoire.
> PAL ... Phase Alternation ,or alternating Line
> NTSC = Never The Same Color :-)
>This info was culled from the Raster Graphics Handbook put out by
>Conrac.

Back around 1965 or so, when Europe was all aflame with political wars
about selecting TV color systems, I heard:

NTSC  = Never Twice Same Color
SECAM = Supreme Effort Contre Americains
PAL   = Phase Alternating Line

PAL was technically much superior to both alternatives (much like beta
was technically superior to VHS), but France would not budge (pigheaded
Gaullist nationalism). Later, France licensed their system to the East
bloc; DDR wanted a system that would deprive their citizens of color
when watching western TV.

Since then, NTSC has adopted color standards at the top of the frame
that allow dynamic compensation for phase shift in the transmission
channel, so the practical difference has diminished (somewhat like
VHS-HQ).

/ Lars Poulsen <lars@salt.acc.com>     (800) 222-7308  or (805) 963-9431 ext 358
  ACC Customer Service                Affiliation stated for identification only
                  My employer probably would not agree if he knew what I said !!