DIGITAL TV MAKES ITS WAY INTO AREA VIA CABLE SYSTEM

Digital TV has arrived but programming is still sparse.

More than 40 U.S. television stations have started some digital broadcasts, but seeing the programs isn't likely unless you have a cable system.

Digital TV carries with it the promise of better, wide-screen, high-definition pictures. And, eventually, all of the 1,600 stations nationwide will change their broadcast to digital TV, according to technical standards adopted in December 1996, by the Federal Communications Commission.

All stations must be digital-ready by 2006.

Digital TV programming is sparse now. CBS' "Chicago Hope" was aired for digital viewing earlier this month; "101 Dalmatians" is also scheduled in digital by ABC; a few National Football League games are planned for digital, and Fox Broadcasting is considering digital for the Super Bowl in January.

A recent PBS program, featuring architect Frank Lloyd Wright, was broadcast in digital, but the local area station, WSIU-TV at Carbondale, Ill., did not broadcast in digital.

A spokesman for the station said the program was digital for cable television users in a half-dozen large markets.

Even with the promise of better, higher definition pictures, don't expect to see much difference on your old television set once digital programming arrives.

Most consumers are not even aware that the format of their signal will be switched. And, even if they do become aware, a majority of manufacturers don't even have the sets to display, much less sell, in time for Christmas.

A digital set will be costly as prices range from $3,000 to more than $9,000, depending on the screen size. Some price tags reach the $20,000 mark.

One St. Louis company, which has been producing high definition programming since late September, is already producing sets for high definition digital television (HDTV).

People from the Cape Girardeau area had an opportunity to see a "live" satellite broadcast of HD television last weekend at Stereo One Inc. in Cape Girardeau.

The 32-inch HDTV set is at the Kingshighway store. The demonstration featured programming on HD-1, the nation's first 24-hour satellite offering HDTV programming.

HD-1 offers movies, children's programs, sports and a travel program, said John Selby of Stereo One.

"We had good turnout for the demonstration and people were awed at the reception," said Selby.

The store hopes to have some HDTVs for sale by Christmas. Meanwhile, consumers can buy a converter box, but it won't give the better quality pictures that digital TV is promising.

HDTV and Standard Definition Television (SDTV) will both eventually be available. There is a big difference in cost for stations to provide either of the digital programming. At the outset, most HDTV digital programming will be devoted to prime-time broadcasts and selected sporting events. During the remainder of the programming schedule, SDTV will be used.

Cable customers can get a look at what is to come with digital packages. The new service from Falcon Cable in Cape Girardeau and Jackson requires customers to buy a converter box and pay for installation.

But it means receiving 36 new channels and many of the programs will be digital, said Roger Harms, general manager for the area franchise.

The upgrade to digital compression technology will give customers a wider selection of channels and better reception, Harms said. With the digital system, the signals will be transmitted directly from satellite into the cable system.

Falcon, formerly TCI Cablevision, has been working on the digital system here for about six months. The system was tested for about a month in Falcon employees' homes before it was made available to customers.