Digital TV Switch - September 8, 2008

The Federal Communications Commission announced Thursday that Wilmington will be the first television market in the country to test the switch to using only digital broadcast signals. Starting at noon on September 8, all the commercial TV stations in Wilmington, including WWAY, will stop using their analog signals and broadcast only digitally.

Television as we know it is about to change.

Digital television (DTV) is an innovative 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 way of broadcasting known as analog. For example, DTV makes it possible for stations to broadcast multiple channels of free programming all at once (called multicasting), instead of broadcasting one channel at a time. DTV technology can also be used to deliver future interactive video and data services that analog technology can't provide.

Why the switch?

DTV technology is more flexible and efficient than the current analog system. The switch to digital broadcasting will allow television stations to offer crystal-clear pictures and sound, plus more channels and programming – all for free. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 requires full-power television stations to turn off their analog channels by September 8, 2008 and begin broadcasting exclusively in a digital format.

Going all-digital will free up parts of the airwaves for future innovative services by entrepreneurs. TV stations can also improve their services with enhanced closed captioning, better pictures and sound, and offer several channels of programmming at the same time, known as "multicasting."

Today, 1,624 out of 1,760 full-power television stations nationwide already offer digital programming in every market in America.

Who's affected?

If you use an antenna to watch TV on a set that has an analog tuner – and don't subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service – you will need to upgrade to digital television by September 8, 2008.

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 TV sets in their bedrooms or kitchens. Overall, nearly 70 million television sets are at risk of losing their signals.

• Purchase a DTV converter box for your existing TV set
• Purchase a TV set with a built-in digital tuner
• Subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service, if that carrier offers the local broadcast stations you want

Note that the transition only applies to full-power TV stations. Some low-power stations will remain in analog, so you may need specific equipment to watch analog and digital broadcasting after the transition. "Pass-through" converter boxes allow your TV set to receive both analog and digital signals. To learn more about low-power television and to find out if the stations you watch are low-power, click here.

How do I switch?

Consumers who receive free broadcast 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 service provider - will be affected by the transition. Viewers who pay for TV services such as cable, satellite or telephone company television services should not be affected or need to upgrade.

Click on the picture above that corresponds with the television and/or paid services you have in your home now to see what steps (if any) you must take to upgrade to DTV before September 8, 2008.

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. The box converts the digital television signal into an analog format, making it viewable on your analog TV set. The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is issuing each household up to two $40 coupons to help defray the cost of converter boxes. Find more information about converter box details.

Choosing An Antenna

Using a good indoor or outdoor antenna will help maximize your over-the-air DTV reception.

After the transition, in most cases, the same antenna that currently gives you quality reception on your analog TV set will also give you good DTV reception.

However, some television stations may move to another channel in a different frequency band, which would require you to get another type of antenna than the one you use now. For example, a station in the “VHF band” (channels 2-13) could move to a channel in the “UHF band” (channels 14-51) and vice versa. Receiving VHF and UHF signals require different antenna types, although some antennas are designed to get both VHF and UHF signals.

To determine which antenna you need no matter where in the country you live, visit www.antennaweb.org. Just type in your address and zip code to find an antenna that will continue giving you free local broadcast programming.