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HDTV is available via antenna, cable and satellite. Free over-the-air HDTV is available to 99.6% of U.S. households. Major cable TV providers, including Time Warner, Comcast, Cox, Insight, Charter, Cablevision and Armstrong all offer high-definition services. Satellite TV services, including DirecTV, Echostar (DISH Network), and Voom are available anywhere in the country and offer several HDTV options. Over-the-air Broadcast
The major commercial networks (ABC, NBC, CBS and WB) offer about 50 hours of HDTV each week. FOX has just recently begun broadcasting its most popular programs in HDTV including six NFL games per week. Most primetime dramas and sitcoms are broadcast in HDTV, as well and ABC Saturday Night at the movies, CBS Sunday Movies, and ABC's Wonderful World of Disney. HD sports includes NCAA college football and basketball, golf tennis, the Stanley Cup, the NFL playoffs, the NBS finals and, of course, the Super Bowl. All of this HD programming is available free with an ATSC tuner and antenna.
Cable and Satellite
Cable and satellite companies offer a well-rounded assortment of HDTV, including Mark Cuban's HDNet (two channels of sports and movies), InHD, ESPN HD, Discovery HD Theater, Showtime HD and Bravo HD.
Dish Network's HD Pak
In addition to regular service, the HD pak includes ESPN HD, Discovery HD Theater, HDNet, HDNet Movies, HBO, Showtime, CBS HD and high-definition pay-per-view. DirecTV HD package offers the same channel line-up except for the high-definition CBS channel.
D-Theater and HD DVD
You can also view pre-recorded HDTV movies in a format called D-Theater. These digital videotapes can be played on D-Theater compatible high-definition VCRs from manufactures such as JVC and Marantz. High-definition DVDs are also coming, most likely in a format called Blu-Ray. However there's still a lot to be worked out between Hollywood and manufacturers before HD DVDs will be widely available.
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