As many of you know, analog television channels will no longer be available after February 17, 2009. Does this mean that you have to get a new digital TV? Will your analog television set work at all? Is there a converter or something like that available so that you don’t have to buy an expensive new television? To answer these questions, let me first say that this analog to digital change over will not affect most Americans. People who subscribe to cable (Comcast, Time Warner, or Charter) or satellite television (Dish Network or Direct TV) services will not be affected by the analog to digital TV update. If however, you still receive your television signal via an antenna or ‘rabbit ears’, you will not be able to watch your favorite shows with an analog TV after February 17, 2009 without a basic analog-to-digital converter or a new digital television set.
The cost of an analog-to-digital converter can vary greatly, but a basic converter should start at around $60. There is currently federal funding in place to help offset the cost of the analog to digital
A new digital television can cost as little as 150 dollars or as much as several thousand dollars, depending on features such as High Definition, Plasma, or LCD and the size of the TV screen. All new TVs are required to meet federal guidelines for receiving the latest digital signal. If you have purchased a television after March 2007, it should have a built-in digital tuner.
Many people have decided that it’s time to