HDTV is a new format for displaying a TV picture. It has higher
resolution and clarity than the old NTSC format. Most stations that
are broadcasting digital signals are now using 4 channels for every
1 they had before. They are reserving some channels for HDTV format
and some channels for NTSC format. An HDTV will display the HDTV
format and probably the NTSC format as well. An HDTV monitor can
display the same picture, but probably lacks a tuner to actually
receive the television signals. You need to plug something into it
like a computer, a DVD player, or a tuner. If that thing sends out
an HDTV signal then you can see it on the monitor.