Will Digital TV vs Satellite TV vs. Cable TV be the clash of the Titans?

There is no real way to compare these three things in a cost analysis because programming and pricing vary widely depending on where you live.

As a general rule, digital satellite or digital cable costs more than non-digital.

Digital TV will be happening for everybody in the US, regardless of whether they have satellite or cable. There won't be an extra charge for switching from analog TV to digital. In fact, there won't even be a choice here in the US.

So, the decision to go with digital cable or satellite basically is a moot point since we'll all have digital TV in June of this year in the US.

How Does the Cost of Equipment Compare Between These Three?

Again, this largely depends on where you live and which cable company or satellite provider you choose.

A rule of thumb at this tine is that digital equipment costs more than regular equipment straight across the board, irregardless of type or provider.

However, this may change when all TVs have to switch from analog to digital.

At present, very few people actually purchase a satellite dish. Obviously, the cost of buying a satellite dish is considerably higher than a cable converter box.

But, again---very few people buy their cable converter box.

Receiving digital programs either through satellite or cable is higher in cost than regular programming at this time.

How many programs are offered by the Big Three also depends on where you live and who your satellite or cable provider is.

However, for the time being, there are fewer digital channels available than regular channels.

This, too, is a state of affairs that will basically have to change once everybody is switched to digital TV.

You might think of digital TV as "TV Grows Up".

Analog TV has been characterized by limited choice and limited use.

With the advent of digital TV, we will have possibilities opening up of countless channels, flexibility of schedules and the metamorphosis of television into a multi-media and multi-purpose unit.

According to experts within the field, the push toward digital TV is backed by two strong convictions:

1. That consumers will be willing to pay more for access to extra content including more channels, access to first release films, and adult programming.
2. That television, instead of being just a simple household device, will play a greater role in facilitation of information at levels not previously thought of, or even imagined.

There are plans to make digital TV interactive! Just think what a huge impact this would have on watching TV as opposed to how we watch it now. A viewer would be able to directly influence programming choice and content.

It's almost mind-boggling!

But, in the not too distant past, so was the internet....and cell phones....and iPods!

A savvy reseller could get in on the action of digital TV and establish a supremacy in the market before others jumped on the bandwagon!