What is Digital TV?
Digital Television (DTV) has different meanings depending on whether you're discussing production and post-production or distribution and transmission. For production and post-production it means using digital production tools such as cameras, VTRs, switchers, disk recorders, CGs, etc. In distribution and transmission, it means sending the audio and video digitally to its destination.
Digital Television in the United States has meant direct broadcast satellite (DBS) with DirecTV (which bought USSB and Primestar) and EchoStar's DISH network. But that has changed. Both broadcasters and cable headends are starting to send their signals to viewers digitally. Learn more about DigitalTV...
The DISH Network: What it Offers
Dish Network offers a free satellite TV system. The installation is also free and they'll often throw in a few months of programming. You can get free satellite TV installed on up to five televisions. You just have to pay about five dollars more per month for programming for each additional receiver.
Dish Network's free satellite TV system includes the Digital Home Plan. It's a life time warranty on the dish and receivers. Technicians will come to your house if you have any problems. If the dish gets hit by lightning or a squirrel eats the cable, you're covered. Read more about the DISH Network...
Our Pick: Echostar Dish Pro 501 System
There is a multiple of choice that the potential consumer will face when contemplating what teh best sysytem and package to purchase is. Our opinion, based on a great deal of customer feedback, is that the Pro 501 System offers the best choice in all-round price and system performance. Here are the specifications... Read more on the DishPVR 501...
What Digital Television Means for You
The Timetable:
Local broadcasters will be initiating DTV service at different times.
A station may begin DTV service as soon as it has received its FCC permit
and is ready with equipment and other necessary preparations. The FCC
has established a schedule by which broadcasters must begin DTV service
(absent extenuating circumstances that may affect individual stations).
This schedule required that stations affiliated with the top four networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) in the 10 largest markets begin service by May 1, 1999. Stations affiliated with these networks in markets 11-30 must have begun service by November 1, 1999. Find out more about what digital tv means for you...