USDTV launches commercially in N.M.

Under testing for the past year, USDTV began to offer DTV service in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area yesterday. Sante Fe and Rio Rancho will also have access in the area, according to the company; the service just launched in Dallas, Texas also. Just so you don't have to hit your rewind button: USDTV is an over-the-air service to provide digital television as a low cost alternative to cable.

Cost of the service includes a one-time set-top-box fee of $25 and the monthly fee is $19.95. USDTV is purchasing unused local digital airwaves from local broadcasters and then uses that bandwidth to provide local digital channels and some cable networks as well. At last check on the USDTV site, the following cable networks were available: FOX News, ESPN, ESPN2, Discovery, HGTV, Food Network, Lifetime and Toon Disney.

Now that USDTV looks to be the real deal, does this "TV Lite" type of package appeal to you over traditional cable? It's not HDTV, but it's a low cost DTV alternative.