SwiftBiscuit, I think you're wrong.
Sadly that happens far too often for my liking
Although there is compression involved, I believe that HDTV uses about four times as much bandwidth as analog TV.
The FCC says otherwise (I took a while finding a source that would be considered reliable).
FCC:
DTV is a more flexible and efficient technology than the current analog system. In the same bandwidth in which a broadcaster provides one analog programming channel, a broadcaster may provide a super sharp "high definition" (HDTV) program or multiple "standard definition" DTV programs simultaneously.
An easier to read but not so reliable a source is an article at
PlasmaTVBuyingGuide.com.
My local Comcast offers several HDTV channels, about 6 or 8, for $5 additional per month. It includes premium channels, but you don't have to also pay for the regular premium channels to get HD. That is an incredible deal, which surely can't last.
From what I read on that service they only have a handful of shows that are in HDTV, the rest are in SDTV. That's still far in advance of what's on offer here, though! And I'm not envious. Nope. Not one bit.
I have been pleased at the take up of widescreen here, but I worry that having forked out on new widescreen TVs people will not be willing to pay again for HDTV widescreen TVs. It might have set back HDTV take up in the UK for a few years.
Kraig, there is a date by which all broadcasters are supposed to be offering HD and digital signals, 2006, or 07, I think. And another, I think, more flexible date, by which they are supposed to end analog broadcasts.
FCC again:
FCC's
DTV FAQ:
12. How long will it take for the conversion to DTV? What is the schedule for conversion to DTV?
The FCC established an accelerated schedule for the introduction of DTV. Pursuant to this schedule, most Americans will have some access to DTV by 1999 and everyone in this country will have DTV access by the year 2002. At the same time, analog service will also continue until 2006. After the end of this transition period, broadcasters will broadcast only DTV.
The 2002 date appears to be
running a bit late. Interesting how 9/11 has effected even this.
The UK originally had a similar timescale to the US for its DTV roll out (but using a different format from the US of course!). It's had to settle for a longer switchover period though as it won't reach the magic 95% penetration figure until 2010 at best.
As for HDTV, I would expect Sky satellite service to be the first to push HDTV broadcasting in the UK as a per-per-view feature or an extension to its Sky+ (Tivo-alike) product. However, since the displays are so expensive I can only see them being bought by Home Cinema enthusiasts rather than Sky's normal market. Which brings us back around to Blu-ray DVDs.
I saw a Philips HDTV ready (no tuner) for $300 at Sam's Club today.
You did? Email me next time you see something like that, I'll take seven!
The cheapest I see there now is a
32" philips for $933, I can't tell if that's capable of 1080i HDTV though.
And that's another thing, Fox seems to be pumping out the 720p resolution rather than going the whole hog and doing 1080i like other broadcasters. Yes it's technically HDTV, but why on earth have they got the same label for two different levels of DTV? 1080i should be relabelled as HDTVe for enhanced or something. Grrrrrr.
