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Why is TV 29.97 frames per second?

Stand-up Maths · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Audio & video engineeringRecreational & visual math

What it is

Matt Parker explains the history behind NTSC television running at 29.97 frames per second rather than 30, tracing it to the backward-compatible addition of color. He walks through the arithmetic behind the odd ratio.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Go-to explanation whenever the strange 29.97 frame rate comes up, praised for its clarity and presenter.

  • 4 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2016, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “definitely go and watch Matt Parker's legendary explanation of why NTSC runs at 29.97fps”

    Matt Parker's explanation of why NTSC runs at 29.97fps.

    mikepurvis, 2020-10 · Strong recommendation · in “My Eight-Year Quest to Digitize 45 Videotapes”

  2. “Matt Parker (standupmaths) did a comprehensive video, with some original write-up on this recently”

    Matt Parker's comprehensive explanation of the NTSC frame-rate ratio.

    mxfh, 2016-10 · Recommendation · in “The “432 Hz vs. 440 Hz” conspiracy theory”

  3. “Cool video. I found another interesting one”

    Explains NTSC's 29.97 frame rate.

    santix, 2018-01 · Recommendation · in “Color Television: NTSC Tutorials”

  4. “check out this video (great presenter!) explaining TV spectrum allocation, NTSC, PAL, and the origin of 29.97 fps.”

    TV spectrum allocation, NTSC, PAL and origin of 29.97 fps.

    walkerbrown, 2025-12 · Recommendation · in “The biggest CRT ever made: Sony's PVM-4300”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: 29.97 fps, ntsc, television history, color tv, standupmaths

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