I am a current SDTV user and am thinking about upgrading to a HDTV.

My question is, for cable TV service, is HDTV programming available from standard (analog) cable or do I need to upgrade to digital cable and get one of the digial boxes from the cable TV company to receive HDTV programming?

Thanks.

Depending on your local cable company you will probably be able to get local digital channels via a QAM tuner. If you want any premium channels you'll need an HD STB and probably an expanded HD package of some kind. Best bet is to look up your local viewing area in the HD Reception Info section and see what others around you are getting.

So if I purchase a new HDTV that has a built in QAM tuner, I may be able to watch "some" HDTV channels that are not scrambled (e.g. local ABC, CBS, NBC stations) without a HD STB if my local cable company allows. However if other channels like ESPN-HD is scrambled the QAM tuner will not be able to pick it up in HD and I will only be able to watch it in SD.

Do most digital cable boxes that you rent from the cable companies allow you to pick up HD programming or do you have to subscribe to HD in addition to regular digital cable? Or does it really depend on where you live and who your cable company is? I heard for satellite TV (Dish or DirectTV), you often have to pay extra to get HD channels.

GO to your local thread and ask these questions.

Most but not all cable companies include HD channels "free" with a digital package. Check with your local cable company.