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Feb 18, 2008 10:15 pm US/Central
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Getting Ready For The Switch To Digital TV
Viewers Who Use Rabbit Ears For Reception Will Have To Make Changes
E-mail Ed your digital TV questions.
Click here for advice on how to get ready, and to request a converter box coupon.
Reporting
Ed Curran
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
If you use an antenna to watch television, your older set won't work after Feb. 17, 2009. One year from now all over-the-air TV broadcasts will be strictly digital. But, don't panic -- CBS 2's Ed Curran has the solutions to make sure you're ready for digital.
Analog TV is going away and your old television can't receive the new digital TV signal. So, if you use an antenna to watch TV, you'll need to do one of three things within the next year:
1. Buy a new digital TV.
2. Buy a digital converter box for your older TV.
3. Get satellite or cable, since their subscribers aren't affected.
"If you're a Comcast customer and your TVs are connected to cable you'll be fine, you won't notice any difference on Feb. 18, 2009 compared to the 17th," said Comcast Vice President of Communications Rich Ruggiero.
If you're still using an antenna to watch television, you're going to love how good digital TV looks. The digital signal makes even old TV shows look great and to get it on your old TV set, all you need is a converter box that will cost you next to nothing.
"This little box will allow you to continue to receive free over the air broadcast television on your old analog set," said John Taylor of LG Electronics.
Converter boxes will sell for $50 to $70 and the government will even help you buy one.
"We will send households two coupons to buy converter boxes good for $40," said Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez.
It's not too often the government offers you $80 to watch TV! To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at
www.dtv2009.gov. The government also has set up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
The coupons will start arriving in mailboxes late this month. You'll have your choice of at least 15 different brands.
A lot of people will be buying the converters.
"Industry estimates are in the range of 25 to 30 million boxes that will be required in the industry," Taylor said. "It's almost like getting a brand new TV."
In Palatine, Andrew Rogers bought one of the digital TV converters already on the market so he could cut his cable costs.
"I didn't know it was available until I started shopping around for it," he said.
With the box free, high definition, over-the-air, digital TV comes in with the same old antenna he's always had.
"Well basically it's just a standard aerial antenna we've all had for years but the magic happens at the box," Rogers said.
Finally, if you decide to buy a new digital television you won't be alone. It's believed that 29 million new digital TVs will be purchased this year because the old analog signal dies 364 days from now.
And when you're making your plans, don't forget about those extra TV sets you have in your bedrooms and kitchen. If they're not digital or hooked up to cable or satellite you're going to have to get boxes for them.
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To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at
www.dtv2009.gov. The government also has set up a 24-hour hotline to take requests, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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