I want a new TV. Most of my games for my Gamecube support progressive scan output. The Gamecube itself has an option of composite HD output. So being a guy that likes hi-tech toys, I wanted to see these games in all their glory. Samsung has a HD monitor/television for about $800. 30″ widescreen or 32″ 4:3 models, I think I could be happy with either one. HDTV would be sweet, and my wife could watch her favorite show, CSI, in all its HD glory. Yet I was hesistant. Knowing a little about the emergent state of HDTV broadcasting, I set out to learn more.

A friend of mine has HDTV, and he had to buy a new version of the old-fashioned rabbit ears to pull in the HD signal over the air (OTA). As I live in a valley (where I can’t even get cell-phone service) I knew that OTA reception would be spotty. I needed something a bit more reliable. My first call was to my cable company, Comcast. Constantly spouting on about their ‘digital cable’ service, I decided to test their digital mettle.

First call – “We don’t offer HDTV in the San Francisco Bay Area. Maybe in two years. The infrastructure here doesn’t allow us to broadcast HDTV signals.”

Second call – “We should have HDTV by the end of the year.”

I know Comcast offers HDTV in many markets on the east coast including Boston and I have a hard time believing that San Francisco’s infrastructure is any worse than Boston’s. Next I called DirecTV and Dish (satellite).

DirecTV – “Yes we offer HD premium channels (HBO, Showtime, etc.), we don’t broadcast local channels.”

Dish – “You can receive analog local channels for $5 more per month. We can offer you Los Angeles HD for the major networks.”

Dish is interesting, but it means getting a Dish installed, new wiring from the roof, and other changes I’m not quite prepared to make.

Yes, HDTV will be nice, but for now I’ll be content with my old Mitsubishi TV.