Join the digital revolution  or stop watching TV
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- January
- 3
It’s coming sooner than you think.
As of Feb. 17, 2009, if you have an old (“analog”) TV and use an antenna (so that’s, what, five people?), you won’t be able to watch TV anymore unless you get a converter box. Seriously.
All “full-power” TV stations in the U.S. will switch to all-digital broadcasting. So the feds are actually offering $50 coupons to anyone who needs to get a box. This doesn’t apply to anyone who has cable/satellite/pay service or a TV with a digital tuner.
Confused? I have to admit, I still sort of am. So here’s a link to FAQs on the federal coupon program and here’s some basics:
A TV set made before 1998 was a traditional “analog” set. If you bought a big-screen, projection TV between 1998 and 2004, it may have a built-in digital tuner inside. But chances aren’t great. Only a limited percentage of projection TV sets (and generally only those 42 inches in diameter or larger) included digital tuners before 2004.If you purchased a new TV set since 2004, your chances of having a built-in digital tuner improve dramatically. Starting in 2004, many of the TV sets sold at popular electronics stores feature digital tuners that will work after February 17, 2009. But it’s not a sure thing. Even some of the newer TV sets are purely display monitors that lack the internal circuitry needed to pick up digital broadcasts. Usually these sets have been advertised as “HD-ready” or “HDTV monitor” sets. That means they can display digital and high-definition signals, but they need help getting those signals in the first place. You’ll still need a special converter or a cable TV connection.
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Where can I find out more information about the digital transition?
There are several useful websites you can visit:
Private sector – Digital TV transition www.dtvtransition.org administered by the DTV Transition Coalition
Government – Digital TV transition www.dtv.gov administered by the Federal Communications Commission
Retailer participation – www.ntiadtv.gov administered by NTIA for retailers.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, January 3rd, 2008 at 11:28 am by Amy Vernon.
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Thanks Amy. I think I’m set. Just bought a new HDTV & have cable so I hope that’s good enough.
I think you’re good to go, Jane! Lemme guess, you wanted to see Skeet in his full HD glory?