DTV Deadline, Part 1: What You Need To Know

Since the conception of television, stations have broadcast with what’s called an analog signal.

But in recent years, almost all stations have started broadcasting digitally as well.

A digital signal provides a clearer picture.

Next year, the Federal Communications Commission will require stations to stop broadcasting with that old analog signal and use a digital signal.

Some viewers need to gear up or else their television sets may not work any more.

Allan Towles of Belleville uses a satellite dish to watch TV.

To watch local stations, he uses a rotary antenna fastened to his roof.

Now, fastened to his set is a new converter box, which allows him to receive those local stations in a digital format.

“The pictures are nice and clear now and I can switch from CBS to ABC or NBC and everything comes in clearer where before it used to be snowing,” said Towles.

If you’re like Towles and have an analog set with an antenna, you need to prepare for the digital conversion.

If you don’t, after February 17 of next year, you won’t be able to watch TV anymore.

The converter box is sold in most electronics stores and the government is offering rebate coupons to knock the cost down from $50 or $60 to about $20.

The box allows you to display digital signals on older TV sets.

People with cable service, or who only use a dish and don’t want local stations, don’t have to worry about the change.

It only applies to people like Towles, who use antennas.

Still, it’s a large undertaking and the government as well as TV stations are trying to get the word out about the transition.

But, there are a lot of misconceptions about the change.

For example, some people mistakenly believe they need to buy new and expensive televisions.

“It’s about 50-50. We get a lot of the older folks that come in that have no clue what’s going on. Everyone thinks they need to buy a high definition tv next year, when in reality, they just need a digital TV or a digital converter box,” said Matthew Northrup of Watertown Appliance and TV Center.

Another misconception - the deadline of February 17, 2009, is not when stations start broadcasting digital.

It’s when they have to drop analog.

In fact Channel 7 has been broadcasting digital for five years now.

“I think we’re all pretty impressed on how good the signal really is and how far it really goes out,” said WWNY program director Jim Corbin.

Right now about 1,600 out of 1,800 local TV stations nationwide already broadcast digitally so you don’t have to wait for the deadline to convert your own TV.

However, the transition to clearer and crisper television won’t come without some blips on the screen.

In part two, we’ll talk about the some of the pitfalls associated with the DTV deadline.

See Part 1 of Jeff’s special series ‘The DTV Deadline’:

Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.

Some useful links:

Comments

5 Responses to “DTV Deadline, Part 1: What You Need To Know”

Cindy Clark on May 6th, 2008 9:33 pm

I just want to know what about battery operated TV’s that people have in their camps that do not have any electricity? Throw them out??
Sue Caruso on May 6th, 2008 11:27 pm

I have input on the analog vs digital TV signals. If 100,000 viewers, and I am using an amazingly LOW number, have to purchase this “BOX” to convert their existing television sets at the cost of $20 after rebates? That amounts to 2,000,000 in revenue for someone. You can’t tell me that politics weren’t involved with this idea. Business’s around the world will make money on the consumers. But then, who isn’t making money on consumers?
What is wrong with leaving analog being allowed on the air? At least until the old TV sets became unusable? Why are we forced to “PAY” more for a product to continue to be usable just because of change?
ROBERT A GRIFFETH on May 6th, 2008 11:41 pm

I applied and received the coupons for this program and finally got to get two of the converters and the picture is quite clear but once and a while the screen freezes and then comes back, believe it might be my indoor antenna or where the antenna is in my apartment as my other TV in my bedroom has no problems. I would like to see more HDTV channels available for viewing as there is no NBC channels in Watertown, would like to see one or al least have a
channel for it available from Syracuse.
raymond slate on May 7th, 2008 8:55 am

This is all well and good Those of us that can afford change and can buy new equipment but for those of us who scrape by and have an old analog TV not so good. also did the FCC ask the people before deciding this and selling off OUR frequencies to corporate world and the military, for there was no referendum or hearing ever mentioned to the general public that all UHF TV frequencies were to be sold off as some thing else after the conversion. They must think that we the people are not smart enough to care if they sell us out. What’s next the CB frequency s ,Ham radio or even free AM-FM radio or will we have to pay for that next.
william mcmartin on May 7th, 2008 3:17 pm

too far away to receive HD from channel 7 or channel 50 but too close for them to allow me to receive CBS and ABC from my sat dish.After anolog is dropped no local news or networks

Got something to say?

Our only rule for commenting is that personal attacks are not allowed. You may post anonymously, but you will receive less leeway with strong comments than if you sign your name and provide a proper e-mail address. Comments are approved by a site administrator before they're published, so it may take some time for your comment to appear. We reserve the right to delete any or all comments, before or after publication. PLEASE NOTE: The name you put in the Name field is what will be seen on the website.