HDTV Programming

So you have yourself a bright shiny new HD plasma TV and it's all set up and looking absolutely fantastic. Now you just need some programming to match the sharpness of your set. What are your options.

Well, at the moment you have three sources of HDTV programming. Free over the air with the help of an antenna or via cable or satellite for which you will have to pay a fee.

Antenna

If you have an integrated HDTV, that's one with a built-in DTV tuner, all you will need to pick up free over the air HDTV programs is an antenna. If you are pretty close to the transmitter an indoor antenna may work, but in most cases you'll need a outdoor antenna to pick up a signal. If your set's not integrated you'll have to decode the antenna signal with an external HDTV tuner before feeding it to your plasma display.

Cable

Cable providers are offering an ever increasing amount of HDTV content, though the amount is down to each individual company and your location. Contact your local cable provider for details. You will need some sort of STB to decode/unscramble the digital cable signal before it hits your plasma. In many case your cable provider will supply this free of charge when you sign up for a package.

Satellite

If you are out of the reach of local HD transmissions and cable operators you can still get your HD programming via satellite.

Once again HD content and packages are continually changing as the satellite companies vie to sign up the increasing number of homes with high definition displays.

The main providers are DirecTV , Dish Network and the new kid on the block with the most HD channels Voom.