Why does my HDTV not receive all its programming in HD?

Courtesy of Doug Finck, WPME and WPXT

First we need to establish definitions:

Broadcast networks: ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, My Network, ION, NBC. These are companies that rely on local TV stations as their primary (and usually, exclusive) means of distribution. In some cases the broadcast networks actually own the local TV stations. In most cases, however, the broadcast networks simply have an affiliation (contract) with the local TV stations to be the exclusive network program provider for that station.

Cable networks: ESPN, CNN, A&E, Disney, etc. These are companies that rely on cable and satellite as their primary (and usually, exclusive) means of distribution. Cable networks do not and cannot own local TV stations

Broadcast stations: Full-powered, local TV stations that broadcast to homes in an approximate 50 mile radius of their towers. These stations are usually also carried on local cable systems and on satellite systems. The satellites must limit the distribution of local TV stations to households that are within the local TV stations’ markets. Someone in Iowa cannot be allowed to receive a satellite feed of a local TV station from Florida. Broadcast stations qualify for “must carry” status with cable and satellite systems (unless the station elects to take their chance and negotiate a carriage agreement with the cable or satellite providers.

Low Powered stations: Low powered TV stations are often religious or niche-programmed stations. A few have affiliations with broadcast networks, but because low powered stations do not have “must carry” rights and are seldom according cable (and never satellite) carriage, they are far less attractive as TV stations.

So, Broadcast and cable networks have vast resources and have no problem affording the equipment to shoot, edit, record, playback, distribute in HD. Very few local TV stations have that capacity. A few large-city local TV stations have added HD cameras for their local newscasts and can broadcast the local news in HD (which is relatively easy because it is live and doesn’t need to be stored and played back).

I believe there are one or two stations in the country that have purchased HD cameras for all of their field reporting, but those are extreme exceptions and it will be years before the majority of stations have the ability to shoot, edit, record, playback, distribute their local news in HD.

Since most local TV stations create little local programming other than their newscasts, that will be the extent of local HD in most cases. We will be an exception when we start doing our local programs (Our Maine Magazine show, our new high school sports show, etc.) in HD.

The bottom line is that, for the most part, here in Maine and most part of the country, your local affiliate can not yet afford to record and playback HD at another time, they get it live or via taped feed from the network and simply re-transmit it in its original form. Syndicated programming, like re-runs of Seinfeld, or Friends, were never recorded in HD and therefore, will never be shown in HD.