What Does This Mean For The U.S. Television Viewer?
For those residing in the U.S. that own analog televisions or older HDTVs equipped only with standard NTSC tuners, and receive their television programs over-the-air via an antenna, this means that those TV owners will not be able to receive analog over-the-air television transmissions after the cutoff date.
What Can Television Viewers Do?
There are several ways to prepare for this:
1. Buy a new TV before that date that has a built-in ATSC tuner. This tuner will allow you to receive over-the-air programming from stations broadcasting television signals in one of several digital broadcasting formats. All Televisions that currently come with analog NTSC tuners, must also now include a digital ATSC tuner as well.
2. Buy a Digital-to-Analog Converter Box (similar to a cable box) that will convert the new digital television signals to an analog signal that can still be accepted by your current television. However, keep in mind that you will need a separate box for every television in your household that has an analog NTSC tuner, unless you don't mind watching the same channel at the same time on all of them.
NOTE: In both of the above options, you can still use the same antenna you are using now, if it is in good working order, especially if it is an expensive or large outdoor model. There is no requirement that you have purchase a special "HDTV" antenna. If your current antenna delivers good reception with your current analog channels, it should do fine with the digital signals as well.
3. Subscribe to a Cable TV or Satellite TV service. Since Cable TV and Satellite Boxes (even the newer digital and HD boxes) all include provisions for digital-to-analog signal conversion for use with analog televisions, if you are either a current subscriber, or sign up before the cutoff date, your television viewing will not be interrupted on televisions that the Cable or Satellite Box is connected to.
With regards to cable subscribers that currently do not have a need for a box for basic analog cable; the cable companies are not required to discontinue this service, unless they wish to. In this case, you may eventually have to use a cable box supplied by your cable provider.
However, keep in mind that the trend towards digital-only cable is going forward anyway, irrespective of the analog over-the-air TV cutoff date, and is not a government requirement. This means that cable companies can continue to offer both analog and digital cable services, or switch to all-digital service at their own pace.
Also, a growing number of new HDTVs are being equipped with what is known as QAM, or Clear-QAM, tuners. These tuners allow direct access of basic unscrambled digital cable channels that are not a part of pay-per-view or premium cable services.
Don't Forget Your VCR and/or DVD Recorder
Since VCRs and DVD recorders also have built-in analog NTSC tuners, they are also subject to the effects of the analog cut-off date. However, this is only if your VCR and DVD recorder receives television signals over-the-air. In this case, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box for each VCR or DVD recorder in your household - or each VCR or DVD recorder and TV pair.
In other words, you can connect a digital-to-analog converter box to your VCR or DVD recorder, then route the signal from there to your TV, much the same way many do with Cable or Satellite Boxes.
Starting in early 2007, DVD recorders began to be equipped with ATSC tuners and now come in two versions: DVD recorders with no tuners at all, and those that come equipped with ATSC tuners. DVD recorders with no tuners are intended to be used with an external cable or satellite box, so having a built-in tuner is not needed for those units.
How Much Is This All Going To Cost?
No one really knows for sure how much the conversion will actually cost consumers as a whole, but converter boxes are priced much less than $100 each and the Federal Government is also kicking in a $40 subsidy for each household to help defray converter box expense.
A portion of the money raised by auctioning off the no-longer used analog television broadcast spectrum is planned to pay for the subsidy program - provided politicians don't steal the money like they do from Social Security, Federal Highway funds, and other designated trust funds. The subsidy program started on January 1, 2008 is in the form of a coupon. To apply for your coupon(s) go to the DTV Converter Box Coupon Site.
The coupons are good for up to two converters per household - with each converter coupon worth $40. So, if converters end up costing $40 - $50 a piece, the average consumer will be in good shape. However, if the converters are between $60-$100 each, there may be a lot of upset viewers out there ready to march on Washington.
The Final Word, For Now...
If you have an old television on its last legs or purchased your last Television about 7-10 years ago, think about getting a new one by 2009. One tip: Prices are not only going down every year, but you are able to hang your new TV on the wall, if you want, as new CRT sets are now almost completely phased out. Lastly, if you are on Cable or Satellite, and you are not sure how the analog-to-digital conversion will actually affect you, don't hesitate to contact technical support for your service for any updated information.
For a good summary of the FCC's converter coupon program, check out an article by Neil Petty via the About.com TV/Video site.
For more details on how to prepare for the DTV Transition, also check out my comprehensive DTV Transition Survival Guide.
For official FCC information on the DTV Transition, go to www.DTV.gov.
