Why is 720p still around?

[dobyblue]

CBS and NBC broadcast in 1080i.
1080i is the same resolution as 1080p if your TV performs deinterlacing properly and handles 2:3 and 2:2 cadences.

So with a 1080p set it is possible to watch a lot of 1080p content.

ABC and FOX broadcast at 720p. The only way to see their programs in higher resolutions is to buy them on Blu-ray.

In addition the only way to make sure you're watching these programs in their native resolution is to get them for free OTA with an antenna. Otherwise your cable/satellite provider may be changing the resolution to fit in their bandwidth/system more easily. Some people think when they change the resolution on their cable/satellite box they are changing the resolution of the program, but you're only changing the output resolution of the box.

For example, in Canada Bell takes all signals and converts them to 720p. Hockey Night in Canada on CBC is broadcast at 1080i. If you set the box to 1080i you're taking a 1080i signal that's already been converted to 720p and changing it back to 1080i again, you've lost half the resolution, you should just leave it at 720p and skip an additional conversion step.

You would be amazed how much clearer and cleaner an OTA antenna signal looks than most of the HD channels I've seen from Canadian and US cable/satellite providers.