We are very fortunate to be in the Salt Lake Valley at the outset of this Digital revolution. Utah is one of the pioneers in DTV technology in the United States. Eight of the nine Wasatch Front television stations have formed an alliance and created a new corporation, DTV Utah. Collectively, channels 2,4,5,7,9,11,14 and 30 shared in the building of a state-of-the-art, 300 foot transmission tower on Farnsworth peak (named after Philo T. Farnsworth, the inventor of television) in the Oquirrh mountains. They also share the two high-powered digital antennae on top. This gives all of the stations the ability to transmit a high-quality, digital signal to the entire valley! No where else is this kind of partnership seen. The transition from analog to digital broadcasting is very expensive. New video equipment, cameras, sets and broadcasting gear must all be replaced. If each station had to shoulder that financial burden on their own, DTV would be a lot longer in coming. By sharing expenses, the transition from analog to digital will be much smoother and faster. The tower and antenna array were completed in October 1999.

The top 10 markets (based on size) in the country have been enjoying digital television since May 1999. The FCC has mandated that the top 30 markets must have some digital broadcasting available by November 1999. All other commercial stations in the country have until May 2002 to begin transmitting DTV. By 2003 all Public Television stations must convert to digital. By December 2006, ALL stations must turn off their analog signals.

In the markets already enjoying DTV, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", is broadcast every night in 1080i in a 16:9 format. As time goes on, more and more of your favorite sports (both local and national), prime-time programming, religious programming, movies, even local news will be broadcast in High Definition Television.