You'll even be able to switch camera angles when watching football games, Joseph said. Commercial networks must begin broadcasting all their shows in both the analog and digital by 2002. But the major networks are starting some digital broadcasts this year. Once broadcasters convert completely to digital, you'll need a convertor box for your old non-digital set. Or you could just buy a new digital one.
Sets are already for sale.
By 2020, the sets should be more affordable. Video on demand is inevitable, Thompson said. That's where you can order and watch a movie through your cable, without having to make that trip down to Blockbuster. That could even extend to new movies. Columbia TriStar Home Video President Ben Feingold told Video Week magazine recently he expects that within 12 years new releases will be available in the home, so you don't have to make that trip down to the theater.