TCA: Hello digital, goodbye analog TV

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In the 1970s, the government repeatedly warned the nation to prepare to shift to the metric system. Well, we’re still talking about miles per gallon.

But after Feb. 17, 2009, we’ll only be talking about digital television. A new law will require American television stations after that day to broadcast only in a digital signal -- as opposed to an analog one.

The coming transition, which will affect about 19 million households, is important enough that PBS devoted an entire panel Sunday afternoon to the sometimes confusing change during the TV press tour in Beverly Hills. Though the government has previously pushed back the transition date, there is virtually no chance they will postpone the current date -- a mere 219 days away -- according to John F. Wilson, PBS’ senior vice president of programming.

A digital signal will give viewers better picture and sound quality and will enable television stations to provide several channels of programming at once. The switch will free up spectrum space for improved emergency communications, say government officials. In addition, the digital change is also expected to be something of a windfall for the government when it auctions off the extra spectrum.

The digital transition will mainly affect TV set owners who receive their signal through antennas that feed into an analog tuner -- and do not subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company TV service provider. Set owners who subscribe to these pay television services already, even those with analog sets, should not be affected.

For those who must make the digital switch to watch their televisions, they have a few options. They can buy a new digitally ready television or they can subscribe to a pay television service such as satellite or cable whose equipment automatically adjusts the signal. Another choice is purchasing a converter box, which costs about $60. (The government is offering up to two $40 coupons per household to offset the cost.)

One reporter with tech-challenged older parents asked if there would be government services to aid in the installation of a new converter box. ‘No, but that sounds like a good business to get into,’ Wilson said. ‘For a generation of people who couldn’t get their clock to stop blinking on 12:00, this could be tricky.’

For more information, see http://www.dtv.gov.

-- Martin Miller