Is digital TV the end of broadcast television? Would that be a bad thing?

As the long-dreaded switch to digital television finally takes place, several competitors are waiting in the wings, eager to take a bite out of the pie that has so long been dominated by broadcast TV. While many consumers will make the switch, this could also be the step that shifts the paradigm from standard television to alternate methods of entertainment.

Several new media -- including cable, satellite TV, the internet, and even cell phone TV -- are poised to take huge chunks of broadcast's market share. With advertising rates already falling on traditional television, it is worth taking a moment to consider what could happen if broadcast TV no longer dominated advertising in America.