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Posted: Tue 4:58 PM, Nov 25, 2008
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Reporter: Kirk Greenfield Email
Updated: Tue 5:37 PM, Nov 25, 2008

Digital TV: Stepping into the Future

Digital TV: Stepping into the Future Part 1

Digital TV: Stepping into the Future Part 2

Digital TV: Stepping into the Future Part 3

WTAP-TV encourages you to learn all about the February 17th, 2009, digital television switch in our three-part series, "Digital TV: Stepping into the Future."

In this series, we address many of the questions and try to sort out the facts about digital television from the many rumors and misinformation out there.

On February 17th, 2009, the Federal Communications Commission will require every TV station in the United States to turn off its analog transmitter and begin broadcasting only in digital.

Digital television allows television stations to broadcast in high definition ("HD") or offer more than one channel by "multi-casting." In fact, WTAP-TV was the first full-power "over-the-air" HD television station in West Virginia, when it started carrying NBC's HD programming on its digital transmitter in 2002. And it became one of the first TV stations in America to begin sending out more than one digital signal when it launched Fox Parkersburg and My5 in 2006. WTAP-TV has been broadcasting both in analog and digital for the past five years.

We hope this special three-part series answers your questions about DTV. We hope you also check out the many other DTV resources we've made available to you on this page.

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Digital Transition Information


http://dtvconverterboxes.blogspot.com

What You Need to Know

TV sets that currently receive programming through cable or satellite are not likely to be affected by the transition to digital.

However, TV sets that rely on "over the air" broadcasting with an antenna (set-top or rooftop) to receive a signal will be affected by the cutoff of analog broadcasts in 2009. You will need to consider one of the following options:
  • 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.
  • Purchase a new television set with a built in digital tuner.
Any of these steps will ensure that "over-the-air" television consumers will continue to receive programming.