Is your television ready for the digital age?

By:Mike Snider
From: USA Today
Date: September 10, 2007

Two years ago, the government set an end date for the USA’s transition to an all-digital television system: Broadcasters must have switched off their old signals by Feb. 18, 2009. Most TV viewers are blissfully unaware of that and — if they’re cable or satellite subscribers — needn’t be concerned. But as many as 21 million households depend on analog sets and antennas. When local broadcasters throw the switch, those TVs will go dark. Questions and answers from USA TODAY’s Mike Snider:

Q: Which televisions will not work?

A: Older TV sets — and not necessarily all that much older — will be unable to display free over-the-air programming unless they’re connected to a new type of set-top box, the digital-to-analog converter. By government mandate, all TV sets 35 inches and larger manufactured since July 2005 have built-in digital TV (DTV) tuners; sets 25 inches or larger have included them since March 2006. Since last March, all television sets, even as small as 5 inches and as inexpensive as $200 or less, have been made with DTV tuners built in.

Q: Does that mean all new TVs being sold have built-in digital tuners?

A: No. Some retailers still have analog sets on shelves and in inventory. But stores have been required to post notices about TVs that will not be compliant with the 2009 DTV mandate.

Q: If I’m shopping for a new TV, how can I make sure I buy one that will receive digital TV signals?

A: Here’s the terminology you’re looking for: Digital TV (less expensive sets may say Standard Definition Digital TV) and an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) tuner.

Q: Will I need a new antenna, too?

A: Probably not. Most rooftop antennas will pick up DTV signals. Viewers currently using rabbit ears may or may not still be able to. (More information at antennaweb.org.)

Q: How do I get a digital-to-analog converter?

A: Set-top boxes are expected to begin appearing in stores in January. The government has set aside more than $1.5 billion to subsidize the purchase of more than 20 million converter boxes. Starting Jan. 1, all consumers — even those who have digital TVs in addition to older analog sets — can apply for up to two of the $40 coupons that can be used toward purchase price, one coupon per converter. (For more information, call 888-388-2009 or go to dtv.gov.)

Q: How much will they cost?

A: The boxes, which will include closed-captioning and V-chip features, are expected to go for $50 to $70, though no prices are set yet. The converter boxes will be “affordable,” says Dave Arland of RCA, one of the companies planning to make converters. “Hopefully, for consumers it’s as simple as going into a store and picking up a box with a coupon in hand, a very simple transaction,” Arland says.

Q: Are there other ways to make my old set work?

A: Yes. You can buy a DVD recorder, digital video recorder or VCR that has a built-in digital tuner. You can also subscribe to cable, satellite or fiber-optic TV services. (People whose televisions are connected to cable or satellite are not affected.)

Q: If I buy a converter box, do I get HDTV?

A: No, though the signal may be clearer than current signals. To get high definition, you need an HDTV set, or an HD-ready set connected to an HDTV tuner. But your converter box may pick up additional channels: Digital technology allows local broadcasters to “multicast” several other channels in addition to their main channel.