FAQ's About Digital TV:

Q. What is Digital Television?
A. "Digital Television" refers to a system that broadcasts and receives picture and sound as digital information. This system is more precise than older analog systems. The result is sharper, clearer picture and sound free of distortion and noise. It also allows for increased resolution and/or channel capacity.

Q. What is HDTV?
A. HDTV or High Definition Television is one type of digital television. HDTV has a much higher resolution than Standard Definition making even fine detail sharp and clear. HDTV also features equally impressive audio with up to 5.1 channel surround sound, and a widescreen aspect ratio similar to movies on DVD.

Q. When will Digital TV be available?
A. It is available now. Digital and High Definition subscription services are available in Lincoln through Time Warner Cable, DIRECTV and DiSH Network. Additionally, many local stations are broadcasting their programming digitally over the air. A UHF antenna and a digital tuner is all that is needed to receive local and network programming.
Click here to find digital stations in our area.

Q. Do I need to buy a new TV to watch Digital TV?
A. No. Even older TV's can benefit from digital TV transmissions. Time Warner Digital Cable, DIRECTV, DiSH Network, and Local Digital programming can be viewed on older TV's using a separate tuner component, which connects like other video products such as a VCR or DVD Player. HDTV Monitors are recommended however, because they will provide the highest quality picture, especially for widescreen and HDTV content.

Q. Will all channels offer HDTV Programming?
A. No. There is no law requiring networks to display content in High Definition. The decision is left to the network whether their show will be produced for HDTV. So far movie channels, as well as sports and network primetime have been amongst the first to be displayed in HDTV. Many cable and satellite networks however, may choose not to invest in HDTV production facilities for several years.

Q. What choices do I have if I want to buy a Digital TV?
A. Here are 2 popular types of Digital TV's in stores today:
HDTV Monitor- This is the most popular digital category. Available in widescreen or standard aspect ratios, these TV's will display HD images when connected to an HDTV tuner, such as a HD Satellite Receiver, HD Cable Box, or off-air set-top box.
HDTV- These sets have become more and more popular every year. They feature a digital off-air tuner built-in, so they'll receive and display digital and HDTV content. Simply connect your antenna and you're ready to watch digital local and network content. By July, 2004, most larger screen TV's will fall into this category.