The Year in Preview

Digital TV sets will debut in 1998, and broadcasters in Los Angeles and other major markets will begin airing as many as five digital channels or one high-definition channel, featuring theater-like video and compact-disc-quality sound. But it’s doubtful that many consumers will shell out the big bucks required--up to $5,000--for sets capable of taking advantage of the new technology. Cable companies, focused on accelerating the launch of high-speed Internet service, will gradually offer expanded capacity on cable systems with more pay-per-view movie choices and special-interest channels such as Disney Toon, ESPNews and MTV’s M2. More signs of media integration: Disney productions on ABC and Warner Bros. productions on TNT. The Fox-Disney sports rivalry will heat up in Southern California when Disney launches a channel featuring the Mighty Ducks hockey team, taking on the two Fox Sports West cable services.