Counting Up The HDTV Channels Is A Game Of Math

In February 2009 the federal government is requiring that all television broadcasts be in high definition and television signal providers are tripping over each other trying to convince the unwary public that they will have more HDTV channels to choose from than they other guy will have. The problem, as seen by many industry watchers is the definition of a channel. Most home television users do not now nor ever will have access to 800 channels but there are some companies pledging that to be the size of their HDTV channels offering when the new law goes into affect.

Satellite and cable television providers are already boasting how many channels they have broadcasted in high definition, essentially a meaningless figure for those who have not made the switch to a high definition television. Even those who have made the switch may not be able to take advantage of all the HDTV channels being pushed if do not subscribe to some of the premium services.

Many regional sports stations are broadcast in high definition and the providers count them as HDTV channels, even though they are not available to a national audience. The same is true for some provider's sports packages. Even if the consumer pays for the entire package, NFL games for example, will only be available on Sundays during the football season, but each one is counted as HDTV channels.

Most Local Stations Broadcast In HDTV

Many local television stations already broadcast their signal in high definition, or digital format, allowing for a better interference-free reception. In order to take advantage of the signal however, the consumer has to have an HDTV and a high definition antenna. I set-top converter will be needed to convert the signal from HDTV channels into analog to play on the old analog televisions, whether it comes from a local broadcast station or the cable provider.

There are many who believe that many of their programs today are available in high definition and for the most part they would be right, but not all local programs are broadcast as HDTV channels all day. Many continue to use the analog system during the day and switch to a digital format during primetime television viewing.

Channels that currently broadcast even part of the time in digital format are counted as HDTV channels by cable and satellite providers and the only ones that have a real interest in the total number are the consumers. While truth in advertising will put a halt to many of the bogus claims, the consumer must be the one to determine how many of the HDTV channels they are being forced to purchase are going to see life on their television screens.