There is nothing like getting home with your new HDTV and popping open the box. You pull out the sleek flat panel set and admire its beautiful design. Eagerly, you mount it on the wall get all the wires straightened out and get ready to play with your new toy. There is only one problem. Unfortunately, it's a pretty big one. Unless you have called your television service provider and ordered HD service, you will not experience HD resolution.

Even though your TV is capable of displaying the highest possible broadcasted resolution, you are not getting it. This might be an opportune time to switch to a television service that better suits your needs. This guide should help see what different companies are offering and where they are headed in the near future in regards to HD Service.

Cable companies are in a bit of a quandary. It almost appears as if only the strong will survive the road ahead. Federal law has been passed requiring all signals to be 100% digital by early 2009. The problem this poses for cable companies is fact that they must re-wire enitre networks to be capable of carrying this signal. Because of the cost that this would entail, prices for service will most likely go up to compensate.

With that in mind, let's take a look at what cable companies are offering, on average, in the way of HD service. Most cable companies offer close to 7-10 channels at around $1 per channel. For example, an east coast company offers 9 (including HBOHD and ShowtimeHD) channels in HD. The cost to add these channels is $6.95/mo., putting it at just under $1 per channel. Most companies also require a rental fee for HD receivers that is usually around $5 - $6 more than a standard digital receiver. If you already subscribe to digital cable, then you are looking to add about $12 or so to your bill.

We all know that there are two major satellite companies currently operating in the US and they are vastly different when it comes to HD service.

In terms of service, Direct TV is fairly comparable to what cable companies offer as far as channel line-up. However, they do offer more when it comes to sports. They have Sunday NFL Ticket and you would be able to view any game in HD as long as it was being broadcast in HD. There are also a couple of regional sports networks that Direct TV offers and the same rule applies as for the Sunday Ticket. The cost to HD to any package with Direct TV is $9.99/mo.

Where satellite companies excel is where cable companies cannot. By offering DVR (Digital Video Recorder) services, you would have a invaluable tool at your disposal. This allows to store and record television shows with your satellite receiver. Most cable companies do provide DVR services but not in HD. In order to get a HD capable DVR reciever through Direct TV, you will have to shell out $199 (after $100 rebate).

Dish Network is current front runner when it comes to HD. With the purchase of Voom in 2006, Dish Network has stayed a couple of steps in front of their competition. They currently offer 30 HD channels at a much heftier price of $20/mo. Voom has also given Dish several exclusive channels that you will not be able to find anywhere else.

Dish also realizes that even though they offer three times as many HD channels as their competition, they still have to appeal to their customers. They have done this by offering their HD DVR free of charge. That's $200 you would not have to spend like you would with Direct TV.