In the last half of the 20th century, most of the televisions that most consumers are familiar with have been traditional CRT screens. In the mid-1980s, as demand for larger screens increased, many manufacturers and consumers turned to rear-projection models. Unfortunately, image quality at short distances was sacrificed in favor of a more theater-like experience. Now comes new high definition television.

As television technologies evolve and improve, so do the technical complexities of each individual component found within each television. Compared to traditional CRT (cathode ray tube) televisions, high-definition televisions, such as plasma or LCD televisions, may be more affordable to repair, depending on the problem. Although they generally cannot match the image quality of high-definition LCD or plasma televisions, rear-projection televisions, such as DLP and LCoS, can be exceptionally expensive to repair. One of the main reasons for the discrepancy in repair price between HDTVs and traditional TVs is parts availability.

Now that LCD and plasma televisions have become firmly established as mainstream technology, previous types of television models have started to decline rapidly due to the decline in both the retail price and manufacturing cost of plasma and LCD televisions. As HDTV capabilities continue to improve, most manufacturers have chosen to stop producing CRT televisions and projection televisions in favor of superior video and the potential for higher profits.

With the proliferation of high definition, aging electronics used in CRT and projection equipment are not being produced in large quantities; as much. The cost of these parts has increased due to decreased supply, but the demand for a knowledgeable and experienced technician has increased further. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find trained TV repair technicians. Although they are more numerous in larger cities, many rural areas or small towns such as Trenton, NJ or Levittown, PA, may be within the service area of ​​a repair company.

Even though plasmas and LCD screens are now the new standard, it may be unrealistic to expect every homeowner to rush to the local electronics store and pay $ 900 or more for a moderately decent to excellent HDTV, especially in these challenging economic times. Finding a TV repair professional still makes sense as it can save the viewer hundreds of dollars on the purchase of a new TV as HDTV technology continues to improve rapidly.