Broadband Cable Association of Pennsylvania

Broadband Development Report

Digital Transition

January 2011

All full-power television stations in Pennsylvania and around the country must transition from analog broadcasts to digital broadcasts

What is the digital transition?

  • The nation's full power over-the-air local television stations are moving from an old system known as "analog" broadcasting to a new system known as "digital" broadcasting.
  • The U.S. government has mandated this changeover, effective June 12, 2009. On that date TV stations will stop transmitting their programs in today's analog technology, and will start transmitting them only in digital.

Why the switch?

  • Changing over to a digital format will reduce the amount of signal spectrum the nation's TV broadcasting system uses. Some of the extra capacity that's freed up will be made available to first-responders such as local police and fire departments.
  • In addition, digital broadcasting provides significantly improved picture and sound quality will be better. TV stations require digital technologies to transmit popular high-definition TV (HDTV) signals, and to introduce new channels.

What do I have to do?

  • If you are a cable subscriber, or purchase satellite or another subscription service, you do not have to do anything. Your cable company will make sure that the signal going to your home will work with whatever set is connected to cable.
  • If you don't pay for television programming but have a TV with a "digital tuner," you do not have to do anything.
  • If your analog TV receives broadcasts through an antenna, such as "rabbit ears" or a rooftop antenna, you will have to:
    - connect the analog TV to cable or satellite service; OR
    - purchase digital-to-analog converter boxes for each analog television; OR
    - purchase a new digital TV.

But what if all of my TVs aren't hooked up to cable?

  • If you have additional televisions not currently connected to cable or satellite, they would have to be connected before February 17, 2009 if you want the cable or satellite company to take care of everything for you.
  • Or, you would need to obtain the converter box or replace the older sets with digital TVs.

How do I know what kind of TV I have?

  • If you bought your TV set before 1998, it probably does not have a digital tuner.
  • If you bought a big-screen, projection TV between 1998 and 2004, it's possible there's a built-in digital tuner inside, but unlikely. Only a limited percentage of projection TV sets (mostly 42-inches or larger) included digital tuners before 2004.
  • Starting in 2004, many of the TV sets sold at popular electronics stores have featured digital tuners, and virtually all new sets sold today have them.
  • The best way to identify a digital television is to review your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website.
  • You should also be able to identify a digital TV by locating specific input connections, including those labeled "digital input" or "ATSC," (for Advanced Television Systems Committee, which is developing the DTV format).
  • You can also look for labels on the set with the word "digital."

How do I keep these sets useful?

  • You can purchase the digital converter or subscribe to cable or another video service. Analog televisions will receive all available signals as before through either of these options.

How can I get help in paying for the equipment I'll need?

  • The federal government is offering $40 coupons for the purchase of a digital-to-analog converter. Each household can request two coupons online (www.dtv2009.gov) or by calling 888-388-2009.
  • The coupon can be used only to buy a converter box, not a new television.
  • The converters are generally priced between $50 and $70.
  • Once you get the coupon in the mail, you must apply it to the purchase of a box within 90 days. The boxes will be easy to attach between your antenna and TV set.

Will I get the same TV reception in digital as in analog?

  • Both your picture and audio quality should be noticeably improved. And, you'll have the ability to access additional broadcast channels to enjoy.

Do these new digital over-the-air signals deliver TV in high definition (HDTV)?

  • Many popular full power TV stations already are transmitting HDTV signals using their new digital broadcasting capability.
  • You can enjoy the crystal-clear HDTV versions of TV stations only if you have a TV set or monitor that's built specially to display HDTV pictures.
  • If you have a digital TV that's not HDTV-capable, you'll be able to see any digital TV stations already on the air with improved clarity, and there will be more after February 17, 2009.

If I do have a new HDTV set, how do I get real high-definition television?

  • You can ask your cable company to connect you to Digital Cable with HDTV.
  • If you're interested in receiving just broadcast HDTV programming, your set may contain a cable tuner allowing you to receive HDTV broadcast signals carried by your cable system.
  • Or, you can purchase a special HD antenna to receive broadcast TV HD channels that are available in your area.

To learn which cable system serves your area, call BCAP at 717-214-2000

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:

www.dtv.gov
www.dtvtransition.org
www.getreadyfordigitaltv.com
...or call toll-free 1-888-DTV-2009

February, 2009