Unfortunately, for every American who has great high definition television programming, many more do not have any access to the format or very limited access. As more people buy HDTV television sets and get their home entertainment system set up for the high def format, this is becoming a larger problem. Some companies, like many cable companies, don't offer much HDTV because their infrastructure cannot support it. Limited bandwidth and outdated wires necessitate limiting programming to only the most basic until the system can be updates. For other companies, including some satellite television companies, sheer stubbornness is keeping Americans away from the upgraded format. Dish Network so far is the only company that has consistently high quality access to a large number of HDTV programming choices.
If you are still watching standard definition television with no plans to upgrade any time soon, access to HDTV might not seem important. But once you decide to get a new television and start thinking about how much your viewing could improve with higher resolution and better sound, the amount of HDTV channels you can receive becomes an important issue. Standard definition channels can be upconverted on a HD television set to more closely approximate high def channels, but the quality is not the same. Therefore, getting as many high def channels as possible is a key factor in making a new entertainment system a lot of fun. Dish Network's total HD channels is about 30 right now. This is more than double what most other television service providers offer. The extra channels allow you to watch more different types of programming and spend more time watching true HDTV entertainment. When you want to watch the big game and then your spouse wants to watch a home makeover special on HGTV (or the other way around), being able to watch both programs in high def is extremely nice.
The way Dish Network has divided their high def television programming is among 4 programming packages. While these packages have differing numbers of standard and high def channels and different prices, they all provide a decent exposure to the high def world. Even the smallest package has 27 HDTV channels. The largest offers 30 with the addition of channels like premium movie channels and National Geographic. Each package also has a lot of standard definition channels. Can't find what you are looking for among the high def channels- with over 200 standard channels in most packages, you are likely to find it there.
What a large HDTV selection means to you is that there are over 200 hours of HD programming airing every day. If you are looking to catch a big game, channels like ESPN, ESPN2, WorldSport, or NFL Network are likely to offer it. If you want to catch a flick, one of the many movies channels, including HBO, Universal, Majestic, and HDNet Movies, is likely to have one that appeals. And if you are looking to absorb some information with your relaxation, a channel like National Geographic, Discover, Equator, HGTV, or Gallery might hold some interest.
High definition television is here to stay and it only makes sense to start watching programming in the format. Of course, if you are going to make the investment in the equipment, you'll want a television provider with plenty of HD choices.
