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All Systems Go � Three Compatibility Options for HDTV

HDTV is an excellent advancement in technology that provides superior picture and sound quality when compared to traditional analog television. But, there are many different ways to take advantage of this technology, mainly broadcast antenna, cable, or satellite.

Broadcast Television

ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, and the WB all broadcast prime time shows in high definition. In fact, the FCC ruled that commercial broadcasters such as these had to begin changing over to digital transmission as early as May of 2002. According to the National Association of Broadcasters, 1155 of over-the-air broadcasters in the United States met this initial deadline.

In addition, the FCC has supplied broadcasters with sufficient bandwidth to broadcast HDTV programming. Despite the FCC’s regulations and assistance with bandwidth, the government agency has not has not established any form of checks and balances to ensure broadcasters are, indeed, broadcasting in HDTV.

As a result, some over-the-air broadcasters are taking advantage of the extra bandwidth through a practice referred to as multicasting. Multicasting is when commercial broadcasters uses the extra bandwidth to broadcast standard definition digital channels rather than high definition digital channels. In this way, commercial broadcasters can broadcast about 6 broadcasts using the 19.4 megabits per second of bandwidth made available in order to broadcast one HD channel.

The FCC has made no rule that broadcasters must broadcast HDTV. In fact, the FCC has stated that broadcasters can broadcast “according to their best judgment,” with the only stipulation being that the digital service be broadcast at a resolution comparable to the quality of analog shows.

For those people who do have big-screen HDTV televisions, analog programs often don’t look very clear. In fact, flaws of analog broadcasting are easier to see with an HDTV television because of its increased pixel density.

In the end, receiving HDTV via a HD antenna is the least expensive way to gain HDTV broadcasting. Many channels, however, are still not broadcasting in HDTV and, even those that do don’t always use the technology to its fullest potential.

Cable

Cable carriers are not likely to carry all HDTV channels at this time, either. In fact, cable companies are currently battling it out with the FCC regarding FCC must-carry rules. The debate mostly surrounds the cable carrier’s unwillingness to carry the many different formats under which commercial broadcasters are currently broadcasting. The must-carry rules basically require cable companies to offer an entire range of local programming, but this rule doesn’t currently apply to digital television. The only exception to this is if a broadcast company only broadcast in digital, but this occurs only rarely. As a result, people using cable to receive HDTV broadcasting generally need an over-the-air HD antenna, as well, in order to receive local channels in HDTV.

Most cable providers do offer some HDTV programming, but the amount of HDTV programming provided depends upon the cable company. In order to receive HDTV programming through the cable provider, it is necessary to have a set-top-box. Often, this is now included in the standard cable box. In other cases, getting an HD cable box requires a special request. In addition, it might cost extra to rent an HD cable box from the cable company.

Satellite

Most satellite companies offer at least a few channels that broadcast in HDTV. Each individual satellite company, however, is different. Therefore, the amount of channels broadcasted in HDTV can vary greatly by Satellite Company. For example, DirecTV offers just 8 channels in HDTV, four of which are part of the more expensive programming bundle.

A company called VOOM offers more HDTV programming, with more than 30 HDTV channels. 21 of these channels are ones that were developed by VOOM and are offered exclusively through the company. VOOM, however, does not offer as many of the same channels as cable or DirecTV.

Before purchasing satellite equipment and committing to a satellite contract, it is important to check the programming options, particularly those that are provided in HDTV. Most satellite companies provide this information on-line.

If the FCC gets its way, all fields will be significantly leveled by the end of 2006. At this time, the FCC has stipulated that all broadcasts must be digital, though not necessarily HDTV. At this time, the FCC will shut off all analog transmissions. The FCC does, however, have a loophole in this mandate. It has stated that this finalization of analog transmissions can be postponed until 85% of viewers in the broadcasting area are digital-TV ready. This has lead to many unhappy consumer groups who want a definitive deadline as to when analog television broadcasting signals will be shut off forever.

No matter when the conclusion to analog officially ends, all three forms of television broadcasting – commercial broadcasting, cable, and satellite – will ultimately need to get with the times and offer all programs as HDTV.