Digital TV Transition - Are You Ready??

On February 17, 2009, television stations across the country will stop transmitting analog signals over the air and switch exclusively to digital transmission - a bandwidth-saving technology that delivers higher quality pictures and sound.

On October 31, 2002, NBC2 WBBH-TV and ABC7 WZVN-TV, both operated by Waterman Broadcasting Corp., became the first broadcast stations in Southwest Florida to offer High Definition Television service. Now, over five years later, broadcasters and viewers are facing a deadline that will again transform television.

What does it mean for you? That depends on how you watch TV.

Nielsen Media Research estimates over 13 million homes - about 10% of U.S. households - receive analog broadcasts exclusively via antenna. Nielsen says about 6 million more homes have at least one TV that will stop working when the analog signals are shut off.

Figuring out if you're in that 15% or so who need to take action means assessing your TV setup.

Step 1: Is your TV ready for digital?

Let's start at the source... your TV. If it's an HDTV or is a standard TV purchased in the last year, it likely has a digital tuner (or ATSC). Check your manual or refer to the manufacturer's website to check on your ATSC status. If you have a digital tuner, you're going to be watching TV after February 17, 2009 with no problems.

TV's purchased before 2002 probably don't have a digital tuner. TV's purchased between 2002 and 2006 are the great unknown - some manufacturers were using digital tuners during that period, some weren't. Again, refer to the manual or the manufacturer's website for ATSC details.

If you don't have a digital tuner, then next question is...

Step 2: How do you get your TV?

Customers of satellite and cable providers are in the clear - nomatter their digital tuner status. Those companies handle the conversion of a digital signal to an analog signal on their own, so you don't have to worry about it.

Those getting an over-the-air signal... you're going to have to take some action. And don't procrastinate - you know how crazy things get at any kind of a deadline (think about the post office lines on April 15th).

Step 3: Time to convert

OK, so your TV lacks an ATSC tuner. That means you'll need a converter - a device that changes the digital signal your TV can't use into an analog one that it can. Best of all, the government will help you pay for up to two of them per household.

Figure out which boxes qualify for the government discount here.

Then, apply for your discount coupons via this website. Keep in mind, once you get the coupons, they're good for 90 days! (The government has enough money in the digital TV till to issue 33.5 million coupons)

The coupon will save you $40 per converter box. The devices generally run from $40 - $70 and are available at most stores that sell televisions. Get ratings on converter boxes here.

FAQ's

More Questions?

Email us us - we'll do our best to get you an answer.

We're sure you have a lot of questions about all this, including why the government mandated this change. The government has set up a website to handle a great number of Frequently Asked Questions.

Another question we hear a lot in hurricane-prone Florida is "Will my battery-powered TV still work?"

Unfortunately, they answer is that it probably will not - hopefully you won't need it this hurricane season, but this season will be the TV's last one. There is at least one company marketing portable TVs with ATSC tuners... we're not endorsing this company, just showing you an example of what's on the market.

Those who want to fine-tune their digital antenna can visit this website, where you can enter your address and see exactly where you should be pointing your antenna.

If you're making the leap to high-def, visit our HDTV page.

And if you are getting a new TV, don't just throw the old one in the trash - it's full of toxic components. Instead, help our environment by recycling it.

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