HDTV Programming

Your favorite shows with HDTV programming

HDTV programming via satellite is set for a transformation as providers make the move to MPEG-4. In recent years getting your high definition programming via satellite was not always easy. With a paid subscription to DirecTV or Dish Network people anywhere in the US could get HDTV. However no service has been able to offer local high definition stations unless users purchased a cumbersome over-the-air antenna.

Satellite providers have offered East and West Coast feeds of NBC, ABC, Fox, and CBS as consolation but these are only legally available in certain metropolitan and rural areas. How is all this about to change? New technology is now becoming available that will make the HDTV programming hitches of the past four years a distant memory.

MPEG-4 AVC is a video compression technology that is set to change all this. By being able to feed twice as much high definition video into identical amounts of bandwidth as MPEG-2 (and combining this with new satellites) there will be much more space available to suit the HDTV programming needs of consumers.

With the MPEG-4 technology available to subscribers broadcasters will be the ability to offer local high definition stations as well as national high definition networks. This means that almost everybody should be able to access local channels and all the networks by 2007. But what about existing DirecTV and Dish Network dishes and set-top boxes for HDTV programming?

Unfortunately these won't be compatible with the new MPEG-4 services. It's not clear what DirectTV's and Dish Network's intent is on this issue. It may take the form of an upgrade or may require an investment in all new equipment. So if you're thinking about investing in a set-up for HDTV programming via satellite make sure its MPEG-4 compatible, before you spend any money. If you don't you might find yourself having to do it all over again!

The DirecTV markets that will get local HDTV programming fromats are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, and Tampa. If you're not in one of these areas find out about the requirements and set ups you'll need to get local high definition in your area before you spend any money.

Also be sure to check out our pages about HDTV Reviews, HDTV Ratings, Plasma HDTV, HDTV Receivers, and HDTV Tuner elsewhere on this site.