If you have not heard or don’t know. All full-power broadcasters must complete transition from analog to digital broadcasting by February 17, 2009 at 11:59pm, as mandated by Congress in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

So why are Broadcasters Switching? Digital TV is a more flexible and efficient technology than the current analog system. It can provide interactive video and data services that are not possible with “analog” technology.

Converting to DTV will also free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast airwaves to be used for other important services such as public safety (e.g. police, fire and rescue squads) and advanced wireless services.
DTV allows broadcast stations to air multiple channels of programming simultaneously (called multicasting), offering viewers a broader depth of programming choices and information. Television viewing will be transformed with images and sound capable of a movie-quality experience.

The advantages of the digital transition are clear. But there are many questions surrounding the impact to viewers and local broadcast stations. How will households with analog television sets get digital programming? What can homes with antenna reception do to retain the ability to view their local broadcasts?

 Here are some links to information that mght help.

Analog TVs Will Need Additional Equipment to Receive Over-the-air Television When the DTV Transition Ends

Consumers who rely on antennas (including outside antennas and "rabbit ears") to receive over-the-air broadcast signals on TV sets having only analog tuners will need to obtain separate digital-to-analog set-top converter boxes to watch over-the-air TV. These boxes receive digital signals and convert them into analog format for display on analog TVs. Analog sets connected to such converter boxes will display digital broadcasts, but not necessarily in the full, original digital quality.

Converter Box Coupon Program

Between Jan. 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, all U.S. households will be eligible to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has responsibility for administering the coupon program. More information can be found at https://www.dtv2009.gov.

Cable and Satellite TV

Cable subscribers may need new DTV equipment to view DTV programming in digital format. You should ask your cable provider what you will need and when.

Satellite subscribers may need new DTV equipment to receive and view high definition digital programming. You should ask your satellite company what you will need and when.

Digital television Quality Levels

There are many quality levels of digital television programming. The most common are:
Standard Definition TV (SDTV) - SDTV is the basic level of quality display and resolution for both a nalog and digital. Transmission of SDTV may be in either the traditional (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) format.
Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV) - EDTV is a step up from Analog Television. EDTV comes in 480p widescreen (16:9) or traditional (4:3) format a nd provides better picture quality than SDTV, but not as high as HDTV.
High Definition TV (HDTV) - HDTV in widescreen format (16:9) provides the highest resolution and picture quality of all digital broadcast formats. Combined with digitally enhanced sound technology, HDTV sets new standards for sound and picture quality in television. (Note: HDTV and digital TV are not the same thing — HDTV is one format of digital TV.)

So you want to find out more here are some links and PDF’s that will explan this all in more detail.

 Impact to the Viewer: The Digital Transition (PPT)
      Includes overview of DTV and HDTV, who will be affected, what consumers can do to prepare.
 Assigning Digital Call Letters

Local Station Digital Transition Initiatives
 PBS Announces DTV transition Consumer Awareness Campaign (B&C PDF posted 2/08)
 South Dakota Stations Mount DTB Campaign (TVNewsday PDF posted 2/08)
 Flash! DTV Transition is on the Way, Says Michigan Association of Broadcasters
     (Broadcasting & Cable PDF posted 2/08)
 Harris: Stations See Greater Ad Options with Digital TV
     (MediaDaily News PDF posted 2/08)
 WNBC to Air “Get Ready for Digital TV” special (TVNewsday PDF posted 2/08)
 New Multicast Digital Networks: Boon or Yawn? (Media Post PDF posted 2/08)
 Digital Networks Vie for Affiliation Deals (TVNewsday PDF posted 2/08)
 DTV Multicast Net Strikes Deal with Sony (Broadcasting & Cable PDF posted 11/07)
 KWCH Wichita Seizes DTV Education Initiative (TVNEWSDAY PDF posted 11/07)
 Local Watertown Station Educating Public through Blogs
     (Online TV Marketing PDF posted 11/07)
 FCC Oct. 15 2007 DTV Hearing: Broadcasters Announce $697Million Campaign
      (PDF posted 10/07)
 NAB DTV Marketing Overview (PDF posted 10/07) 
 There’s more to Local HD than Hardware (TVNEWSDAY PDF posted 10/07)
 Quincy Gets Jump on Equipping Viewers for DTV (PDF) 
 CBC Stations Launch DTV Transition PSA Campaign (PDF)

DTV News
 Digital Switchover to Create Tons of E-Trash (BusinessGreen.com PDF posted 2/08)
 Centris Study on DTV Glitch Called ‘Misleading’ (Mediaweek PDF posted 2/08)
 Study: Signal Drop Glitch Exists in DTV Switchover Plan (Mediaweek PDF posted 2/08)
 Failure of Microsoft Device Could Damage White Spaces Campaign
    (CNNmoney.com PDF posted 2/08)
 Martin Plan: Must Carry for Class A – LPTV Stations (Multichannel News PDF posted 2/08)
 NBC Seeks a Sweep Shift (Hollywood Reporter PDF posted 2/08)
 Broadcasters Get Leeway on Digital TV Switch (Reuters PDF posted 1/08)
 For LPTV, DTV is a Countdown to Disaster (TVNEWSDAY PDF posted 11/07)
 NAB DTV Press Conference / Starcom Mediavest Sees Broadcasters Generating
    98 Billion Impressions (PDF Broadcasting & Cable 10/07)
 Beijing Olympics to Kick-Start Mainstream HD Adoption (PDF Broadcasting & Cable 10/07)
 FCC Sets 700MHZ Auction Rules, Moves Date to Jan. 24 (PDF Broadcasting & Cable 10/07)
 NTIA Approves First DTV Converter Boxes (PDF TVNEWSDAY 9/07)
 Verizon Lawsuit Looms Over DTV Transition (PDF Multichannel News 9/07)
 Groups Organize Opposition to Unlicensed Devices in White Space
    (PDF TVTechnology.com 9/07)
 White Space Proponents tell FCC to Take it Slow
     (PDF TVNEWSDAY Focus on Washington 9/07)
 Senator Kohl (D-Wis.) Hammers Government DTV Transition Education for Seniors
     (PDF Broadcasting & Cable 9/07)
 DTV Education – White Space Style (PDF Broadcasting & Cable 8/07)

Here are some other helpful links that talk about the digital TV transition.

www.dtv.gov

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) DTV transition initiatives and filings.

www.dtvanswers.com

National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) DTV facts and local station PSA initiatives.

www.ntia.doc.gov

National Telecommunications & Information Administration’s digital converter box consumer coupon program.

www.mstv.org

Association for Maximum Service Television DTV technology and spectrum policy. The MSTV is working with the NAB to address possible DTV interference issues.

www.atsc.org

Advanced Television Systems Committee voluntary standards for digital television

www.tvb-eport.net

Television Bureau of Advertising’s open electronic platform to which any trading partner (buyer, station, rep) can send open standard transactions (e.g., order, makegood) and from which any trading partner can receive open standard transactions. This platform accommodates local station digital channel transactions and has established a digital channel naming convention in accordance with Nielsen standards.

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