(11/2/99)

DIGITAL TELEVISION

Following over ten years of research and public comment, the FCC decided that digital operation by the USA's nearly 1,600 TV stations was in the public interest. Digital Television, or DTV, is a new type of service coming to the airways. Each existing TV station in the Unites States has been given a new TV channel on which to broadcast a digital format. Currently, TV stations use an analog or NTSC format and they will continue to broadcast on their current channels with this format for at least several, and possibly as many as eight years. The digital format offers several advantages over the analog format. High Definition TV (HDTV) broadcasts over DTV channels will provide the consumer with a much clearer and brilliant picture than currently available on analog broadcasts.. Also, the single digital channel provided to each station can be used to broadcast four or five standard definition analog channels like are now being broadcast, as well as, for down loading of data for computers or other interactive and new services. It is at the broadcasters discretion as to how it uses its digital channel. By the year 2006, all US TV stations are to be operating in a digital format only and they will abandon their analog broadcasts. It is uncertain if and how many of these digital channels cable companies will initially carry. This is an issue that will be considered in an FCC Rulemaking. Satellite companies indicate that they will be providing some HDTV programming for customers having satellite dishes. Keep in mind that there will always be set top converter boxes available so that customers can use their current TV set, whether analog or digital, to receive any type TV signals. Therefore no current set will ever become obsolete. However, in order to receive the full benefit of picture superiority offered by HDTV, the customer must have a DTV receiver. These are just beginning to come on the market at a very high price ($4500-15000). The evolution of digital TV is for the most part will be marketplace driven. However, the FCC does have a timetable. There are presently around 95 stations on the air with some kind of digital programming. You will become more informed of this technology as it evolves in the marketplace and there is more information in the general news media about it. Expect to see more stories about DTV as more stations actually begin broadcasting in a digital format and receivers become more readily available