Digital TV transition of 2009 - Will You Be Affected?

There has been a lot of chatter lately about the digital conversion that will take place in 2009, yet many consumers still don't understand if they will one of the 13.5 million people left in the dark. On February 18, 2009, full-power U.S. television stations will be turning off all of their analog signals to make a full converion to a digital format. It has become evident that there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding this transition so it is imporatant for consumers to do some research before making a decision to either replace their current tv or purchase a converter box.

If you currently subscribe to Dish Network or another satellite tv provider, or you subscribe to a cable tv service, you may have to contact your programming provider to see if you will need any additional equipment, such as a digital set-top box. If you already are receiving digital programming from your provider, you will still be able to receive your current programming in 2009. If you are using a television with a built-in digital tuner, you will also be able to continue to receive programming either with an antenna or through a pay tv provider.

Those who have an analog television and are receiving programming with an antenna will have a few options. The first option involves purchasing a digital converter box from an authorized retailer. The second option would be to replace your television with one that contains a digital tuner.

There is some good news for those who do decide to purchase a converter box. The government is providing over a billion dollars to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to help consumers purchase the needed equipment. Every household can receive up to 2 coupons and consumers can apply via the internet at www.dtv2009.com or call toll-free at 1-888-DTV-2009. The coupon will help the consumers save $40 off the cost of the boxes, which should be available soon at a cost of $50-$70.

If you decide to replace your analog televisions with digital televsion, there are a few things to know. By law, all televisions shipped to or shipped within the United States after March 1, 2007 must contain a digital tuner. As of May 25, 2007, if a retailer has an analog television that was received prior to the March 1 timeframe, they must disclose to the customer that the tv contains an analog receiver and that a digital converter box will be require to receive over-the-air television after February 18, 2009.

If you are receiving programming using an antenna and are unsure if you have a digital television, review your television manual for phrasing such as “Integrated (ATSC/Digital) Tuner” or “(HDTV/Digital) Tuner Built-In.” If you see that your tv literature contains this information, you should be able to receive your antenna programming after the conversion is complete. For more information from the FCC on the 2009 conversion, visit http://www.dtv.gov/.