You have two different questions there. What is being broadcast and why am I getting PCM via digital? PCM IS a digital signal (all redbook CDs are PCM for example), and via optical and coaxial digital connections, it is effectively limited to stereo only (dts-CDs being an exception). As to why the receiver reads PCM, that simply means for that particular broadcast, they are not transmitting a Dolby Digital signal (which may be anywhere from 1 to 8 channels). When the receiver detects a PCM signal, if left on "auto detect", the receiver will generally default to ProLogic/II/IIx by default. Just because you have a digital connection does not mean you are receiving a multichannel bitstream broadcast and everything is not "converted" to Dolby Digital or DTS.