HDMI is generally considered as the successor to the SCART interface. It is an emerging fully digital connection that is based on the same fundamental technology as DVI and enjoys extremely broad industry support.
The advantages of HDMI are:
- HDMI has an extremely high bandwidth making it future-proof and suited for applications beyond HDTV.
- A single cable is used for transferring all uncompressed Video and Audio Information from a STB (Set-Top-Box) to a display.
- The fact that HDMI carries uncompressed video guarantees the highest possible picture quality.
- HDMI gets rid of unnecessary Analog to Digital and Digital to Analog Conversions.
- HDMI replaces all current audio / video cables between different A/V components by a single cable: this simplifies connections and clears up the cable mess generally associated with A/V setups.
- HDMI provides a content protection technology called HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) securing the link between different HDMI components.
- HDMI supports an integrated consumer electronics control protocol (CEC), which allows controlling all A/V components through a single remote control.
- HDMI is fully compatible with DVI-HDCP and allows DVI components to be connected to HDMI displays through a simple passive cable adapter. HDMI components can also be connected to DVI-HDCP displays.
- HDMI has a small connector, which is pin compatible to DVI but in addition to DVI carries digital multi-channel audio
SES ASTRA and its industry partners recommend a High Definition Digital Interface to be provided on both DVB High Definition IRDs and High Definition Displays. This interface needs to be HDCP compliant.