Question About Networks Switching to HD

[kerrex_2006]

I've been reading these reports about various cable channels switching to High-Definition broadcast in the near-future, and that had me wondering...

...Will anyone with regular cable be affected by this in any way? By that i mean, will the channels still be in our cable package once they switch, or will they be removed leaving us with regular cable behind?

Because if that's true, then would be required to switch to HD effective immediately, or should we wait it out and see what happens?

[SatStorm]

You may need to get a new receiver, capable for the HDTV transmissions and capable to downscale the picture on standard definition, so to watch it with what you already have.

[kerrex_2006]

OK, so if I don't get that receiver in time, will the channels be deleted from the cable package?

And what are the best brands of receivers to use for it?

[akrako1]

cable operators (comcast in my area) adds new digital cable channels for each additional HD station. The SD channel isn't removed. I can't imagine removing any channels until there is 100% HD adoption, which I don't know will ever happen.

[TBoneit]

They supply both a SD and a HD signal. I have HBO, Cinemax, Stars, Showtime in SD and in HD. They would have to be dumber than a dead tree to stop providing a SD signal and lose all those subscribers.