Once again Adam your point is correct but it won't happen. Since conglomerates own most stations whether it be FOX or Tribune, or Media General or whatgever, they also have vested interests in cable channels.

The stations won't discourage people from signing to see those other channels. Actually most cable companies compress their HDTV so OTA HDTV is the best HDTV there is.

Problem is a converter box isn't HDTV you have to buy a new TV. Also old programming isn't HDTV it's upconverted.

HDTV is really a gimick and people don't need it. I mean Seinfeld is no funnier if it was in high def vs standard def. Is the news any more informative if it is in high def? Of course not.

"FREE HDTV." That's all that broadcasters have to say, and watch the antennas sprout up on homes that can live without cable -- or want to save $$ on second- and third-set hookups. But retrans fees discourage broadcasters from promoting their own business, to the detriment of viewers who think they have to pay to get any true HDTV at all. The DTV campaign promotes digital to analog conversion; who's going to tell Joe and Jane Public that they're paying for HD channels they could be getting for free. "Free HDTV" is the distinguishing factor; why won't anyone tout it?