Many consumers are under the impression that when the turnover to total Digital TV Broadcasting occurs that all current TVs will be "obsolete".
Although, many of the TVs in U.S. households may not be able to display HDTV or DTV signals, external DTV converter boxes are available now that enable older TVs to still be used. The DTV converter box simply converts in incoming DTV/HDTV signal to an Analog TV signal that can be hooked up to any TV. Of course, you won't get any of the increased resolution of DTV or HDTV and all widescreen programming will show up as letterboxed on your analog set. However, the DTV converter box does extend the usefulness of an older, but still perfectly functioning TV.
Also, if you decide to go all out now and purchase an HDTV, all currently available HDTVs can also be used to watch standard TV programming, as all HDTVs (except some flat panel monitors) have standard analog TV tuners built-in, exclusive of whether they also include an HDTV tuner or require an external set-top box for receiving HDTV programming.
With prices of the digital TVs coming down to affordable prices and sales of digital TVs continuing on a steady pace, a vast majority of TVs in U.S. households by the end of the decade will, most certainly, be digital, thus the analog-or-digital issue will be put to rest.
NOTE: The DTV Transition only affects analog Televisions, VCRs, and DVD recorders that receive programming via an over-the-air antenna. If you subscribe to cable or satellite TV service, you will not be immediately affected. Contact your local cable service if you have questions.
For more details on this issue, read my resource article: February 17, 2009 - Analog Television Broadcasting Gets Turned Off - Are You Ready?
