EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS) provides equipment sales, digital broadcast operations, and satellite services that enhance today's digital TV lifestyle, including products from Sling Media, Inc.

ENGADGET: USPTO rules against TiVo's "Time Warp" patent, but the fight vs. DISH rages on, again

About EchoStar Corporation EchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS) provides equipment sales, digital broadcast operations, and satellite services that enhance today's digital TV lifestyle, including products from Sling Media, Inc.

ENGADGET: TiVo's $200m damages award against DISH is headed back to the appeals court, future

But without a digital TV tuner, or a cable or satellite set-top box that can convert a digital signal, consumers won't get any TV at all by 2009.

FORBES: The $75 Billion TV Tab

Don't confuse high-definition TV with digital cable or digital satellite systems.

FORBES: The Big Picture

And about 40% more will be able to view the digital signal through a digital cable or satellite set-top box on an analog TV they already own.

FORBES: The $75 Billion TV Tab

The MPAA contends that now, without the technology in place, content providers will be unwilling to broadcast their programming for fear of it being copied and redistributed, and that consumers who don't subscribe to more secure cable and satellite TV won't be able to get certain digital programming.

FORBES: Red Flags Over Hollywood

Then there is the growing trend of consumers ditching their cable and satellite television services (like U-Verse perhaps, which also offers digital TV along with Internet) opting instead to stream content over the Internet.

FORBES: Did AT&T Just Call Us Fat?

All three perform the same basic function -- they let you stream TV from your cable box (digital or analog), satellite receiver, or DVR to a computer or mobile device -- it's just that each is aimed at different segments of the market.

ENGADGET: Slingbox PRO, Slingbox AV, and Slingbox Tuner get official

Digital terrestrial is likely to act as a shop window for its pay-TV satellite service and drive more viewers towards BSkyB.

BBC: Digital TV losers assess their prospects