1.   Also, the industry is facing increased competition from cable providers that are starting to offer more channels through digital programming.

2.   A conventional TV equipped with a converter box will be able to pick up the digital programming, though it will not be shown in high-definition.

3.   Cable companies are already spending millions to upgrade their networks to deliver digital programming, and satellite cable services already have digital capability.

4.   Digital programming offers sharper pictures and better sound than analog TV.

5.   Fox, steadfastly contrarian, also says its digital programming will use a half-speed frame rate.

6.   Kirch, the Bavarian media company closely held by Leo Kirch, wanted to seize the market before competitors such as Bertelsmann introduced their own digital programming.

7.   Much of the early digital programming probably will be sports and other live events that exploit the wider, sharper displays of the new TV sets.

8.   Nynex officials say they will download digital programming from a satellite to their station in Needham, Mass.

9.   NXTV also has an agreement with DirecTV, the El Segundo satellite television service that will supply its digital TV programming to the hotels.

10.   Only consumers with digital television sets will be able to receive the digital programming.