By: Bruce Bahlmann - Contributing Author (your feedback is important to us!)

Created: January 3, 2008

Have you purchased a new High Definition Television (HDTV) set and wondering how to get HDTV service? Perhaps you already have an HDTV service but looking to upgrade service. The following article is all about HDTV services, what they offer for selection, and how each service compares - its a must read for all you beginner HDTV owners as if you do not know any better you are probably paying too much!

Praying on the Inexperienced

HDTV Service Comparison

When it comes to HDTV it is mostly about choice. What is better, 30 channels or 80 channels? The easy answer is 80 channels, but you should look more closely at what is in the 80 channels before assuming its the right choice. Listed next to these is some of the confusing language which is emphasized instead of the actual service provider HDTV channel count which is part of the programming package.

Clearly in Table 1.0, the Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) HDTV offering falls into the beyond category. AT&T, Cablevision, and Charter have respectable offers (albeit half that of DBS). Interestingly, Charter and Cablevision don't provide 40+ channels nation-wide rather only in areas where they are in direct competition with AT&T.

Comparing HDTV Service Pricing:

Table 2.0 HDTV Service Pricing Comparison by Service Provider

It is pretty scary to think that within a couple years you have paid more for programming than you paid for your television so the savings of $10 or even $20 per month really add up.

Tackling the Quality Question

When it comes to HDTV, the bigger the screen you have the more quality of the signal becomes a factor. The most popular screen size is around 40 inches and that size is just enough to start showing signs of weak or bad signals. Beyond the 40 inch screen size, particularly at 60 inches and above signal quality is paramount. At this screen size, over the air antenna users really need a high gain antenna or multiple antennas. Similarly, Cable, DBS, and Telco offerings are placed at a sensitive operational point. Perhaps only FiOS, which doesn't experience appreciable signal loss during transmission, is the only service provider who worries "less" about this issue. Given this information the following table lists things to consider in terms of quality among HDTV service providers.

Tiling is a regular problem when it comes to digital television programming and people will just need to get used to it just as they did with "snow" on their analog televisions. It is virtually impossible to eliminate tiling mostly because to do so would take the economics out of transmitting television signals over a wire. Tiling happens when their is a brief signal interruption or a major picture transition requiring more bandwidth than can be allocated so some of the signal is dropped. If you watch a lot of basketball or other "fast moving" content you will likely see more tiling than if you watch slower moving content. Cabling has to do with how the video components are connected within your house or in the case of an apartment complex how they connect to your unit. The type of coaxial cable used as well as how many splitters are used will limit the level of signal any television or Set Top Box (STB) will receive - thus producing tiling. Compression happens at the source of the signals in order to support the "economics" of delivering the signal to you in a cost wise fashion. The more a signal is compressed the more it is susceptible to signal loss. DBS providers are ahead of the game in their use of MPEG4 for HDTV which will only get better in the coming year. By using MPEG4 DBS providers will probably be offering some 1080p television programming this year which will be 2-3 years ahead of any other provider rolling this out.

Conclusion

If you must have HDTV programming and live in the suburbs of a large city. The absolute cheapest way to get high definition content is via an over the air antenna for local channels and buying or renting Blu-ray discs from Netflix - such a decision would save you 50% the first year and 75% (or more) each year there after. However if you are not so lucky or do not have access to a roof you would be looking at spending between $600 and $960 per year for HDTV programming (plus taxes).

Check out these other Birds-Eye.Net papers/products regarding HDTV:

• Choosing the Best HDTV Programming Package - Comparing Cable, DBS (Satellite), FiOS and U-verse for HDTV services
• Choosing high definition disc player: Blu-ray vs HD-DVD - The confusion around format war is over blown
• Consumer Appetite for High Tech Television - From HDTV, to Video on Demand (VoD), and perhaps to a la carte
• Best High Definition DVD Players Reviewed - The perfect gift for the gadget lover
• Broadband, HDTV, and Video Art - An introduction to using HDTV to deliver video art
• Buying into high definition television - What you need to know before you buy
• Choosing the best digital television: DLP vs LCD vs Plasma - Guidance to choosing the best digital television
• DTV converter box review and where to buy - Untangling the choices in DTV converter boxes, here is a short and sweet cheat sheet
• HDTV Market Research - Great place to start learning about HDTV
• HDTV Plasma Vendor Directory - Directory of vendors offering plasma sets
• HDTV Programming Directory - Directory of available HDTV content
• Home Design Reference - Guide to resources for designing your home HDTV system

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