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On February 17, 2009
the era of analog broadcast television in
the United States will end as the
nation completes its transition to an
all-digital system. While this change will
mark the end of the traditional analog
method of broadcasting over-the-air
television, it won’t signal the end of free
broadcast television, and your favorite
broadcast programs and local television
stations will still be available.
If you currently receive analog television
over the air or via an antenna, you’ll need
to take action to continue watching your
favorite stations. TVs accessing "pay"
television service such as cable or
satellite aren't likely to be affected by
the switch. |
What is the digital TV
transition?
The digital TV (DTV) transition is the switch
from traditional
analog TV to digital TV, a modern technology
with many benefits. February 17, 2009 is the
deadline by which traditional analog TV service
will be shut off. The DTV service will be what
remains. Most television stations are currently
broadcasting their programming in both analog
and digital until February 17, 2009. Analog
television sets receiving free, over-the-air
programming will still work after that date, but
owners of these TVs will need to acquire
converter boxes to change digital broadcasts
back into the old analog format. Converter boxes
will be available from consumer electronics
retailers at that time. If you’re a cable or
satellite subscriber, you aren’t likely to be
affected by the DTV transition, but you may want
to check with your cable or satellite provider
if you have questions about your service
What is the
Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Assistance
Program?
On February 18, 2009, broadcast television
stations will stop analog broadcasting and
complete the transition to digital broadcasting.
If you don’t subscribe to cable or satellite
services, you’ll need either a television set
capable of receiving DTV programming, or a
digital-to-analog converter box.
Digital-to-analog converter boxes will make DTV
signals viewable on analog TV sets. These
converter boxes will be available in retail
stores during the transition. The National
Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of
Commerce is developing rules that will allow
households to obtain coupons that can be applied
toward the purchase of digital-to-analog
converter boxes. For more information on the
Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Assistance
program, visit
NTIA's DTV Coupon FAQ.
How can I prepare for the DTV transition?
Preparing for the DTV transition is easy and
requires one of three steps by February 17,
2009:
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Purchase a new television
set with a built in digital tuner.
-
Purchase a
digital-to-analog converter box that plugs
into an existing television. The boxes, which
are expected to cost between $50 - 70 will be
available for purchase in 2008. Beginning on
January 1, 2008, U.S. households can request
up to two coupons valued at $40 each. Each
coupon can go toward the purchase of a single
set-top converter box that will allow you to
continue watching free "over-the-air"
television on an analog
set.
-
Subscribe to a cable,
satellite or telecommunications service
provider if all desired local broadcast
stations are carried by that
service.
Any of these steps will
ensure that "over-the-air" television consumers
will continue to receive programming.
Preparing for the Digital Television Transition.
Analog TV ends on February 17, 2009. $40 coupons
for a "digital-to-analog" converter are now
available at
www.dtv2009.gov. For more information on the
DTV transition
click here »
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