Jun 13, 2009 12:01 am US/Eastern
Understanding The Move To Digital TV
For more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission's digital television website at DTV.gov
Don't have cable or satellite and live in a hilly area? You may need a new UHF/VHF antenna aimed at the North Side to receive KDKA and other local stations. Call 1-888-CALL FCC or visit AntennaWeb.org for more
WASHINGTON (National Association of Broadcasters) ―
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If you used to receive television signals with an antenna, you now need to install a digital converter box in order to watch programs.
CBS
Television as we know it has changed.
By law, television stations nationwide were required to switch from the old method of transmitting TV signals known as analog to digital television (DTV) on June 12, 2009. DTV is a new type of broadcasting technology that delivers movie-quality pictures and sound, more channels and even high definition television (HDTV) to consumers with HD television sets.
If your household does not have a digital converter box and you have lost television reception, there are easy steps to take to receive a digital signal. The National Association of Broadcasters and the CBS Television Stations Group will assist you throughout the entire transition process.
For more information about DTV, visit
DTVAnswers.com from the National Association of Broadcasters.
Last Minute Information
DTV 101 VIDEO LIBRARY:
Transition to Digital TV
What happens on 6/12/09?
Buying a Digital TV
Who Will Need a DTV Converter Box?
Installing a Converter Box
Options For Analog TV Owners
More
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What is DTV?
Digital television (DTV) is an innovative new type of over-the-air broadcasting technology that enables TV stations to provide dramatically clearer pictures and better sound quality.
DTV is more efficient and more flexible than the traditional broadcast technology known as analog. For example, DTV makes it possible for stations to broadcast multiple channels of free programming simultaneously (called multicasting), instead of broadcasting only one channel at a time. DTV technology can also be used to provide future interactive video and data services that are not possible with analog technology.
What is Analog Television?
Analog television service is the traditional method of transmitting television signals. Analog transmission has been the standard broadcast technology since the inception of television. Analog is not as efficient as digital television: it uses up much more of the valuable spectrum than digital, and TV stations can only transmit one channel of programming with an analog signal versus up to four or more programs with a digital signal in the same amount of spectrum. Analog is also susceptible to interference and "snow" that make a picture less clear.
What is the DTV Transition?
The DTV transition is the switchover from analog (the traditional method of transmitting television signals) to exclusively digital broadcasting of free television programming. The transition from analog to digital television represents the most significant advancement of television technology since color TV was introduced. The DTV transition occurred on June 12, 2009. Television stations have been preparing for the transition from analog to DTV since the late 1990s, when they began building digital facilities and airing digital channels alongside regular analog broadcasts. Today, the vast majority of full power television stations nationwide offer digital programming.
What Equipment Do I Need?
If you used to receive free over-the-air television programming on an analog television set, you now need a DTV converter box to continue to receive television service. To help consumers cover the cost of the converter box, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will be issuing up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households until July 31st. Information about the DTV converter box coupon program is available at
www.ntia.doc.gov.
What is a DTV Converter Box?
A DTV converter box is an easy-to-install electronic device that hooks up to your analog television set and over-the-air antenna and converts the digital television signal into analog, making it viewable on your analog TV. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will issue up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households to help defray the cost of the converter box.
Why the Switch?
DTV is a more flexible and efficient technology than the current analog system. The switch to digital broadcasting will enable television stations to offer dramatically clearer pictures, better sound quality and more programming choices. Under legislation passed by Congress – the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 – over-the-air broadcast television stations were required to turn off their analog channels on June 12, 2009, and continue broadcasting exclusively in the digital format.
Since digital television is more efficient than analog television, the analog turn-off will also free up parts of the airwaves to provide wireless spectrum for future innovative services by entrepreneurs.
What are the Benefits of DTV?
Digital television allows TV stations to offer a number of new and better services. In addition to providing dramatically better pictures and sound quality, DTV also enables TV stations to provide several channels of television programming at once. This is known as "multicasting." DTV can also be used to provide data services (such as significantly enhanced closed captioning) that are not possible with analog technology.
When Is It?
The switchover from analog to digital broadcasting happened on June 12, 2009, as set by Congress. However, television stations have been preparing for the transition since the late 1990s, when they began building new facilities and airing digital channels alongside their regular analog broadcasts. Today, the vast majority of full power stations nationwide offer digital programming in all markets across America.
When Can I Obtain a DTV Converter Box?
DTV converter boxes that transform digital television signals to analog are available for purchase at electronics retailers or online. These converter boxes allow consumers to maintain their free, over-the-air television service even on older analog TVs. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will issue up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households to help defray the cost of the converter box. Find out where to obtain a DTV converter box by visiting
www.dtv2009.gov/VendorSearch.aspx. You may apply for a coupon by visiting
www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx.
Who's Affected?
Consumers who receive over-the-air television signals through antennas on television sets that are equipped with analog tuners – and who do not subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company television service provider – will be affected by the transition.
At least 19.6 million households receive over-the-air signals exclusively in their homes, and 14.9 million households have secondary over-the-air television sets in their bedrooms or kitchens. Overall, nearly 70 million television sets were believed to be at risk of losing their signals on June 12, 2009, if consumers did not make the easy transition to DTV.
Consumers who received free, over-the-air broadcasting on analog sets have three options for continuing their television service:
- Purchase a DTV converter box that will convert the digital signal into analog for an existing television set;
- Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner; or
- Subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company television service provider if all desired local broadcast stations are carried by that service.
How Do I Switch?
You can make the transition to digital television by following one of three simple steps:
- Purchase a DTV converter box that will convert the digital signal into analog for an existing television set.
- Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner.
- Subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company television service provider.
Converter Box Details
A DTV converter box is an easy-to-install electronic device that hooks up to your analog television set and over-the-air antenna and converts the digital television signal into analog, making it viewable on your analog TV. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will issue up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households to help defray the cost of the converter box. You may apply for a coupon by visiting www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx.
Choosing An Antenna
Do I need a special antenna to receive digital television (DTV) over-the-air?
With a good indoor or outdoor antenna, you will maximize your DTV reception. In general, dependable reception of DTV will require the same type of antenna that currently works to provide good quality reception of analog TV signals. For help choosing an antenna in order to receive your free, local broadcast TV channels, visit
www.antennaweb.org.
Can I Recycle My Analog TV?
Yes. For more information about how to recycle your television and other electronics, visit
mygreenelectronics.com.
Contacting Cable Companies/Satellite Providers
Click on these links to contact local cable companies or satellite dish providers:
KDKA FCC Reports on DTV Education
WPCW FCC Reports on DTV Education
Without cable or satellite, some viewers of WPCW's current analog signal are predicted to experience a loss of service when digital service begins.
Click here to find out if your area is affected (& get coverage maps and more)!
Need More Info?
Learn more about DTV and what this change will mean to you from the National Association of Broadcasters DTV website at: DTVAnswers.com/
Need A TV Converter Box? (Click for DTV2009.gov Coupon Program)
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