By law, full-power television stations nationwide must end their analog broadcasts and begin broadcasting exclusively in a digital format after June 12, 2009. While the benefits of DTV are remarkable, millions of households that receive broadcast TV through antennas risk losing reception unless they upgrade and take the steps to receive a digital signal. Read our Frequently Asked Questions below for more information about how you can prepare for the switch to DTV.
About the DTV Transition
I heard there is a new transition date of June 12. What happened?
The U.S. Congress approved an extension of the DTV transition deadline from from February 17 to June 12. This means all full-power television stations must complete their switch from analog to digital broadcasting by June 12.
What is digital television (DTV)?
Digital television (DTV) is a new type of broadcasting technology that is transforming television as we know it. By transmitting information as “data bits” (like a computer) to create a TV set’s picture and sound, a digital broadcaster can carry far more information than what analog broadcast technology currently allows. The difference between analog and digital broadcasting is similar to that between compact discs and cassette tapes.
Digital TV offers a better viewing experience with vastly improved picture and sound quality. DTV is also more efficient than analog TV technology, so broadcasters will be able to produce additional channels of programming using digital broadcasting technology.
What is analog television?
Analog television service is the traditional method of transmitting TV signals and has been the standard broadcast technology since the inception of television. Analog television service isn’t as efficient as DTV. It uses up much more valuable spectrum that—once the DTV transition is completed—will be used for other purposes. Remaining spectrum will be auctioned off for the production of new services.
Analog broadcasting will continue until the transition deadline, which is set for June 12, 2009. Most television stations will continue broadcasting their programming in both analog and digital signals until then.
How do I know whether my TV set is analog or digital?
Every TV set made before 1998 was a traditional “analog” television. If you bought a big-screen, projection TV between 1998 and 2004, there is a chance it has a built-in digital tuner inside. Before 2004, only a limited percentage of projection TV sets (generally sets that are 42 inches in diameter or larger) included digital tuners.
If you bought a new TV set since 2004, there is a high likelihood that it has a built-in digital tuner. In 2004, popular electronics stores started selling many TV sets with built-in digital tuners that will work after June 12, 2009.
Using your TV set manufacturer name and model number, search this database to find out if your TV set has a digital tuner.
Why is America switching to DTV?
An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for other services. Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies, so they can provide consumers with more advanced wireless services, such as wireless broadband.
Consumers also benefit, because digital broadcasting allows stations to offer improved picture and sound quality. Digital is much more efficient than analog. For example, rather than being limited to providing one analog program, a broadcaster is able to offer a super-sharp “high definition” (HD) digital program or multiple “standard definition” (SD) digital programs simultaneously through a process called “multicasting.”
What is multicasting?
Using the same amount of spectrum required for one analog program, multicasting allows broadcast stations to offer several channels of digital programming at the same time. For example, a station broadcasting in analog on channel 7 is only able to offer viewers one program. However, a station broadcasting in digital on channel 7 can offer viewers a digital program on channel 7-1, a second digital program on channel 7-2, a third digital program on channel 7-3, and so on. This means viewers get more programming choices.
What do I need to do to be ready for the end of analog TV broadcasting?
Preparing for the DTV transition is easy and requires you to take one of three steps by June 12, 2009:
- Purchase a digital-to-analog converter box that plugs into your existing TV set. The boxes, which cost between $40-70, are now available for purchase at electronics retailers nationwide. Households can request up to two $40 coupons towards the purchase of converter boxes that will allow you to continue watching free “over-the-air” television on an analog set. You can apply for coupons at www.DTV2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV-2009.
- Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner.
- Subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service that carries the local broadcast stations you want.
Taking one of these steps ensures that “over-the-air” television consumers will continue to receive programming.
I live in a community that has translator and low-power television service. Do I need to take action before June 12, 2009?
Translator and low-power television stations are not required to go all-digital after June 12, 2009. To continue receiving free over-the-air programming provided by these stations using an antenna, you have a few options. You can either purchase a converter box that has the analog pass-through feature or an antenna “splitter,” a device that sends signals to your existing TV set and your converter box without the analog capability. But the best way to watch both types of programming is with a new TV set that has an analog and digital tuner. For more information about low-power stations, visit www.LPTVAnswers.com.
Do I have to wait until after June 12, 2009 to watch DTV?
No, in many areas, digital television is available now. If you watch over-the-air television today, using a DTV receiver will allow you to access most or all of your local stations’ digital signals. This includes high definition and multicast programming from your local stations. Visit www.antennaweb.org to determine which antenna type best meets your needs and to learn which stations are already broadcasting in digital. Or check your local program listings and local TV stations to find out more about DTV now available.
What is being done to help the elderly, etc. prepare for the transition?
Research shows that minorities, low-income families, the elderly and people living in rural areas will be among the most disproportionately affected by the transition. NAB is a founding member of the DTV Transition Coalition, which now includes more than 220 organizations nationwide that are reaching out to their local communities, particularly to those most vulnerable. The coalition is extremely diverse. Organizations such as AARP, American Association of People with Disabilities, the National Council on Aging and many others are helping amplify our education efforts. To learn more, visit www.dtvtransition.org.
Many blind and visually impaired people rely on radios that receive TV audio bands. After the transition, those radios won’t be able to receive TV broadcasts. How is this being addressed?
We’re not aware of anyone working on an adapter for this. One option is you could buy a digital converter box and connect just the audio output to an auxiliary input on a radio that has such an input. However, this is a rather cumbersome arrangement, at least for the non-visually impaired, since most converter boxes don’t have a display that shows what channel you are tuned to, and navigation would be limited solely to channel up and down keys.
I’m a cable customer. Will I be affected by the transition?
Television sets connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service will not require a converter box. Cable and satellite subscribers should check with their providers before June 12, 2009, to see how they are handling the transition.
Do cable customers with analog TV sets have to buy or rent a set-top box (converter box) from their cable company? If so, how much will it cost?
First, it’s important to know that the June 12, 2009 deadline for the digital television transition only applies to full-power broadcast stations. The government does not require cable companies to transition their systems to digital. They can continue to deliver channels to their customers using analog signals. Actually, cable companies are required under FCC rules to offer local broadcast stations to their customers in analog, as long as they offer any analog service. This requirement will continue for at least three years after June 12, 2009. The FCC will decide in 2011 whether the requirement should be extended beyond June 12, 2012. This means that customers who receive analog cable service (without a cable set-top box) will be able to continue doing so.
Can I keep my older analog TV set after June 12, 2009?
Yes. A digital-to-analog converter box will allow you to continue using your existing analog TV set to watch over-the-air digital programming. If your analog set is hooked up to a subscription service, such as cable or satellite TV, it should continue to function as before. Analog sets should also continue working with gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players and similar products that you use now.
Converter Boxes
What is a TV converter box?
A TV converter box is a stand-alone device that allows your antenna to receive and convert digital signals into a format analog television sets can display. This newly designed product is now available in stores nationwide. A TV converter box is a one-time purchase and costs between $40 and $70.
Depending on your TV, converter boxes plug into either the back or front of the set. You will still need an antenna, which works with the TV converter box. Each TV converter box comes with installation instructions from the manufacturer. A generic “Quick Start Guide” and installation video are available at www.digitaltips.org.
How much do I have to pay for a TV converter box?
TV converter boxes are now available in retail stores nationwide. They cost between $40 and $70. The federal government is giving every U.S. household up to two $40 coupons to help pay for the cost of the converter box. Click here for more information about the converter box coupon program.
Where can I purchase a converter box?
Electronics retailers nationwide are selling TV converter boxes in their stores, online and by telephone. Once the coupons arrive by mail, consumers will be provided a list of nearby participating retailers.
What is meant by an “eligible” TV converter box?
TV converter box models must meet technical and performance standards determined by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in order to qualify for the coupon program.
Does someone have to come to my home to install the converter box?
No, you should be able to install the converter box yourself using the instructions provided by the manufacturer. For specific questions, call the manufacturer’s technical support hotline or ask your local retailer.
How big is the converter box?
Converter boxes are about the size of a paperback book. Most will fit on top of a small to medium-sized TV set.
Do I need to purchase a TV converter box that is the same brand as my TV?
No, the brand of converter box can be different from that of your TV set.
Can I hook up more than one TV set and video recorder to a single digital-to-analog converter box?
No, you will need one digital-to-analog converter box for each TV set or other device (such as a VCR) that only has an analog tuner.
How come pass-through boxes aren’t labeled as such?
To our knowledge, the government permits manufacturers, not retailers, to determine the converter box packaging. Major suppliers are planning to produce more models that allow analog pass-through this summer, so hopefully by then, retailers will carry some pass-through boxes.
Will I receive closed captioning through a converter box?
Yes. Coupon-eligible converter box manufacturers are required to provide closed captioning for display on your television, but the features provided vary by box. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has produced a guide that lists selected features, including closed captioning, for a number of converter boxes. The guide is updated periodically as new converter boxes become available.
After plugging in my converter box, I see black or gray bars on the sides or all the way around my picture. Why doesn’t the picture fill up the TV screen?
Simply put, your converter box may be having trouble determining the shape of the picture and how to best display it on your existing TV set. Traditional analog TV sets have a square-shaped screen, and some digital programming is still being produced in this shape, which should fill the screen on your TV. However, many digital programs are now produced with widescreen pictures intended for viewing on digital TV sets with wider screens. It is due to these differences in picture shape that creates bars around your picture.
You can remove or reduce the size of the bars by using a button on the converter box remote control that changes the way a picture is displayed. Find the button marked “zoom” or “aspect ratio,” and keep pressing it until the picture looks right. You may need to change the setting for different programs. Please note that widescreen programs are meant to have bars on the top and bottom when viewed on a square-shaped screen, but no programs should have bars all the way around the picture.
After installing my converter box, I lost some of the channels I used to get. What should I do?
After hooking up a converter box to your TV set, or installing a new digital TV set, you will need to scan (also known as “auto-tune”) for new channels to make sure you receive all of the digital stations broadcasting in your area. While some boxes do this automatically, you may need to select scan manually.
Because some digital stations that are already on air are moving to different channel numbers after the DTV transition, you may need to rescan again after June 12, 2009, to ensure that you receive all of the digital stations broadcasting in your area.
For what types of situations do I need to rescan?
You should rescan your converter box or TV set for channels when installing equipment for the first time, after repositioning or moving an antenna around and once again after June 12, 2009. Since some digital stations are still coming on air, you may want to consider rescanning on a periodic basis to get all of the digital programming available.