A system (200) and method (300) provide an efficient communication system for distributing digital multimedia/HDTV signals to multimedia units in a cellular pattern. The method includes: 1) using at least a first primary wide area-antenna for, where selected, transmitting a digital multimedia/HDTV signal per frequency allocation over at least a portion of a predetermined reception area, wherein a plurality of patterns of cells tesselates the predetermined reception area; and 2) using cell-site antennas having transmitters, each located in a cell, for, where selected, transmitting, when the primary wide area-antenna is deselected, at least a first preselected digital multimedia/HDTV signal over an area of the cell, for providing the HDTV signal to a plurality of digital receivers in accordance with a predetermined scheme, wherein the digital multimedia/HDTV signal is associated with a predetermined frequency allocation.
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