The big switchover

[Inspector Sands]

Ah, that makes sense. I really dislike the American system, it's just too free-market. DVB-T looks so much better. I'd rather have 80 16:9 channels, plus radio, then 11 HD channels, with no teletext or interactivity.

Yes, most of the broadcasters are simulcasting their main channel in HD and then using the rest of the bandwidth for side channels, often in SD.

These side channels are often weather or news services - NBC's stations had 'NBC Weather Plus' until recently and PBS stations have a kids and a documentary channel. Although a channel in one area which has only had CBS and NBC analogue stations has put CBS and Fox onto it's sub channels:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_subchannel

The terrestrial system in the US isn't really the place if you want lots of choice though, cable or the big satellite companies have the channels - just like here

[jsm]

Here in New York, it's pretty terrible...even the quality of the shows are not up to par.

[jsm]

The former administration planned this quite poorly, not providing enough funding for subsidies for digital set top boxes, in addition to only airing television spots regarding the switch in 2008. It should have started in 2006. There are 6.5 million households without access to digital television...about 20 million people. As such, the Obama administration wishes to delay the switchover to June 12th instead of February 17th.