Getting ready to setup a whole house HD video setup. I would like to be able to watch different satellite programing at each monitor. I currently have Dish but can switch if needed. The latest Dish DVR offering provides HD to one room and SD to an additional room. (kinda dumb marketing imo) Am I forced to buy a receiver for each viewing location or do I have other options?

I was also wondering if it makes sense to run HDMI connections to all locations or stick with CAT or Component+2 channel audio. (except for
the theater of course)

Thanks

You are several years too early on this. It can be done, but not very easily or cheaply.

D* claims to be able to do it with their HR21 Pro to other HR21 DVRs, but I am not aware of anyone who has actually seen it work except at a trade show.

E* has nothing.

FiOS claims it, but right now their firmware only works with SD, not HD, though the firmware about to be released does have it.

AT&T claims to have it, but again, little is known about it.

The easiest way if not one of the aforementioned is probably through Windows Media Center with cablecard tuners that will feed the output to XBox 360s or other units at the rear of the additional HDTVs. Obviously, that leaves Dish out of contention.

Again, its not a cheap solution.