When high-definition television (HDTV) was first considered a possibility in the United States, the U.S. government held

Question:

When high-definition television (HDTV) was first considered a possibility in the United States, the U.S. government held a competition to select the technical standards that would be used nationwide. Why would the government see an advantage to setting one standard for HDTV, and what are the pros and cons for the private businesses that were interested in producing HDTV for the U.S. market?