Characteristics of B,G/PAL and M/NTSC television systems

I have collected this information from Recommendation ITU-R BT.470-5 CONVENTIONAL TELEVISION SYSTEMS.

Note!
M/NTSC system implemented in Japan differs slightly from the description below.

I have dropped out most of the small exceptions to clarify the basic characteristics. I have not described the colour encoding principles. System B is used in VHF band and system G in UHF band.

Basic Characteristics

**Basic characteristics of video and synchronizing signals**
Characteristics	B,G/PAL	M/NTSC
Number of lines per picture (frame)	625	525
Field frequency, nominal value (fields/s)	50	59.94
Line frequency f_H	15625±0.0001%	15734.264±0.0003%
Assumed gamma of display device	2.8	2.2
Nominal video bandwidth (MHz)	5	4.2

Line Synchronizing Signal

Nominal and peak levels of the composite video signal (%)
Durations measured between half-amplitude points on the approriate edges

Symbol Characteristics B,G/PAL M/NTSC

1 Blanking level 0 0

2 Peak white-level 100 100

3 Synchronizing level -43 -40

4 Difference between black and blanking levels 0 7.5±2.5

5 Peak-to-peak value of burst 43±5 40±4

7 Peak level including chrominance signal 133 120

**Nominal and peak levels of the composite video signal (%)**
Durations measured between half-amplitude points on the approriate edges
Symbol	Characteristics	B,G/PAL	M/NTSC
1	Blanking level	0	0
2	Peak white-level	100	100
3	Synchronizing level	-43	-40
4	Difference between black and blanking levels	0	7.5±2.5
5	Peak-to-peak value of burst	43±5	40±4
7	Peak level including chrominance signal	133	120

Details of line synchronizing signals
Build-up times measured between 10% to 90% of the pulse edges

Symbol Characteristics B,G/PAL M/NTSC

H Nominal line period (µs) 64 63.5555

a Line-blanking interval (µs) 12±0.3 10.9±0.2

b Interval between time datum (0_H) and back edge of line-blanking pulse (µs) 10.5 9.2 to 10.3

c Front porch (µs) 1.5±0.3 1.27 to 2.22

d Synchronizing pulse (µs) 4.7±0.2 4.7±0.1

e Build-up time of the line blanking pulse (µs) 0.3±0.1 <0.48

f Build-up time of the line synchronizing pulse (µs) 0.2±0.1 <0.25

g Start of sub-carrier burst (µs) 5.6±0.1 5.3 (4.71 to 5.71)

h Duration of sub-carrier burst (µs) 2.25±0.23 (10±1 cycles) 2.23 to 3.11(9±1 cycles)

**Details of line synchronizing signals**
Build-up times measured between 10% to 90% of the pulse edges
Symbol	Characteristics	B,G/PAL	M/NTSC
H	Nominal line period (µs)	64	63.5555
a	Line-blanking interval (µs)	12±0.3	10.9±0.2
b	Interval between time datum (0_H) and back edge of line-blanking pulse (µs)	10.5	9.2 to 10.3
c	Front porch (µs)	1.5±0.3	1.27 to 2.22
d	Synchronizing pulse (µs)	4.7±0.2	4.7±0.1
e	Build-up time of the line blanking pulse (µs)	0.3±0.1	<0.48
f	Build-up time of the line synchronizing pulse (µs)	0.2±0.1	<0.25
g	Start of sub-carrier burst (µs)	5.6±0.1	5.3 (4.71 to 5.71)
h	Duration of sub-carrier burst (µs)	2.25±0.23 (10±1 cycles)	2.23 to 3.11(9±1 cycles)

Field Synchronization of PAL System

Details of B,G/PAL field synchronizing signals
Durations measured between half-amplitude points on the approriate edges
Build-up times measured between 10% to 90% of the pulse edges

Symbol Characteristics Value

v Field Period (ms) 20

j Field-blanking interval 25 H + a

j' Build-up time of the edges of field-blanking pulse (µs) 0.3±0.1

k Interval between front edge of field-blanking interval and front edge of first equalizing pulse (µs) 3±2

l Duration of first sequence of equalizing pulses 2.5 H

m Duration of sequence of synchronizing pulses 2.5 H

n Duration of second sequence of equalizing pulses 2.5 H

p Duration of equalizing pulses (µs) 2.35±0.1

q Duration of field-synchronizing pulses (µs) 27.3

r Interval between field-synchronizing pulses (µs) 4.7±0.2

s Build-up time of synchronizing and equalizing pulses (µs) 0.2±0.1

**Details of B,G/PAL field synchronizing signals**
Durations measured between half-amplitude points on the approriate edges
Build-up times measured between 10% to 90% of the pulse edges
Symbol	Characteristics	Value
v	Field Period (ms)	20
j	Field-blanking interval	25 H + a
j'	Build-up time of the edges of field-blanking pulse (µs)	0.3±0.1
k	Interval between front edge of field-blanking interval and front edge of first equalizing pulse (µs)	3±2
l	Duration of first sequence of equalizing pulses	2.5 H
m	Duration of sequence of synchronizing pulses	2.5 H
n	Duration of second sequence of equalizing pulses	2.5 H
p	Duration of equalizing pulses (µs)	2.35±0.1
q	Duration of field-synchronizing pulses (µs)	27.3
r	Interval between field-synchronizing pulses (µs)	4.7±0.2
s	Build-up time of synchronizing and equalizing pulses (µs)	0.2±0.1

Field Synchronization of NTSC System

Details of M/NTSC field synchronizing signals
Durations measured between half-amplitude points on the approriate edges
Build-up times measured between 10% to 90% of the pulse edges

Symbol Characteristics Value

v Field Period (ms) 16.6833

j Field-blanking interval (19 to 21) H + a

j' Build-up time of the edges of field-blanking pulse (µs) <6.35

k Interval between front edge of field-blanking interval and front edge of first equalizing pulse (µs) 1.5±0.1

l Duration of first sequence of equalizing pulses 3 H

m Duration of sequence of synchronizing pulses 3 H

n Duration of second sequence of equalizing pulses 3 H

p Duration of equalizing pulses (µs) 2.3±0.1

q Duration of field-synchronizing pulses (µs) 27.1

r Interval between field-synchronizing pulses (µs) 4.7±0.1

s Build-up time of synchronizing and equalizing pulses (µs) <0.25

**Details of M/NTSC field synchronizing signals**
Durations measured between half-amplitude points on the approriate edges
Build-up times measured between 10% to 90% of the pulse edges
Symbol	Characteristics	Value
v	Field Period (ms)	16.6833
j	Field-blanking interval	(19 to 21) H + a
j'	Build-up time of the edges of field-blanking pulse (µs)	<6.35
k	Interval between front edge of field-blanking interval and front edge of first equalizing pulse (µs)	1.5±0.1
l	Duration of first sequence of equalizing pulses	3 H
m	Duration of sequence of synchronizing pulses	3 H
n	Duration of second sequence of equalizing pulses	3 H
p	Duration of equalizing pulses (µs)	2.3±0.1
q	Duration of field-synchronizing pulses (µs)	27.1
r	Interval between field-synchronizing pulses (µs)	4.7±0.1
s	Build-up time of synchronizing and equalizing pulses (µs)	<0.25

Radiated Signal

**Characteristics of the radiated signal**
Levels in this table are % of peak carrier.
Characteristics	B,G/PAL	M/NTSC
Nominal RF channel bandwidth (MHz)	B:7 G:8	6
Sound carrier relative to vision carrier (MHz)	+5.5±0.001	+4.5
Nearest edge of channel relative to vision carrier (MHz)	-1.25	-1.25
Nominal width of main sideband (MHz)	5	4.2
Nominal width of vestigial sideband (MHz)	0.75	0.75
Type and polarity of vision modulations	C3F neg.	C3F neg.
Synchronizing level (%)	100	100
Blanking level (%)	75±2.5	72.5 to 77.5
Difference between black level and blanking level (%)	0 to 2	2.88 to 6.75
Peak white level (%)	10 to 15	10 to 15
Type of sound modulation	F3E	F3E
Frequency deviation (kHz)	±50	±25
Pre-emphasis for modulation (µs)	50	75