As i understand it, 1080i and 720p are not ``competing'', but, in fact, two elements of the same standard. One of the important features of US-based HDTV or DTV (Digital TV) is that the broadcasting station can determine the distribution of the data they send out on their channel. Remember that data other than a video signal can be sent. I participated (shortly) in a trial that, as it turned out, had a lot more to do with distributing data than video, and, while I didn't really care that much, it worked pretty well.