Abstract: In Dubrovnik from 12 to 23 May 1986 the XVIth Plenary Assembly of CCIR took place, headed by the Chairman Prof. I. Stojanovic. On this Assembly the problem of HDTV perspective system standardization was for the first time generally discussed by CCIR.
The Assembly approved the report of CCIR SG 11 (TV broadcasting) chairman on this problem and adopted a number of important documents which contributed to its effective solution, including the Resolution to hold an Extraordinary meeting of SG 11 on HDTV.
The author provides a brief historical overview, focusing on the development of HDTV standard taking into account the progress of digital technologies, using CCIR and ITU-R documents as the basis of the study. On SG 11 meeting in June 1999 an improved Recommendation for HDTV was unanimously approved. It was a worldwide HDTV standard for broadcasting, international programs exchange and electronic cinema. So a very important stage of long work on creating the basic standard of society information in XXI century was reached
Key words: HDTV, ITU, CCIR, standardization.