This year, look for numerous PGA events and more NFL football from CBS, the Athens Summer Olympics from NBC, the NHL Stanley Cup and the NBA Finals from ABC, and new digital programming from PBS. The FOX network made its long-expected announcement that it will join the other networks in offering HDTV this fall. In addition to shows like The Bernie Mac Show and 24, it’s also possible that we’ll see the World Series and The NFL on FOX in HDTV. Currently, FOX digital programming is in the enhanced-definition (EDTV) format (i.e., 480p widescreen).

In addition to network HDTV programming, a few local broadcasters and cable companies across the country are offering unique news and local-interest programming in HDTV. Contact your local HD providers for details.

Satellite and Cable Networks
The programming guide [real title TK] also lists the regularly scheduled HD programs that appear on HBO, Showtime, HDNet, HDNet Movies, Discovery HD, and INHD. These networks have dedicated HD channels that are only available via satellite or cable.

Not listed in the programming guide are the numerous movies and special-interest programs that appear on these and other networks at various times. For example, like HBO and Showtime, Cinemax, The Movie Channel and Starz! have dedicated HD channels that offer varying amounts of HD movies. When not showing native HD, these channels upconvert programming to the HDTV format; nice, but not the real deal. Full-time 24/7 native HDTV providers include HDNet, HDNet Movies, INHD, INHD2, and Bravo HD+, which all offer a variety of HD entertainment, sports, movies and specialty programming. You can even get HD pay-per-view movies and free HD special events from satellite and some cable providers. DirecTV, for example, recently introduced the first adult pay-per-view HD offering, Spice HD.