DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION INFORMATION
What Is Digital Television?
Digital Television (DTV) is an advanced broadcasting technology that
will transform your television viewing experience. DTV enables
broadcasters to offer television with better picture and sound quality. It
can also offer multiple programming choices, called multicasting, and
interactive capabilities.
Converting to DTV also will free up parts of the scarce and valuable
broadcast spectrum. Those portions of the spectrum can then be used
for other important services, such as public and safety services (police
and fire departments, emergency rescue), and advanced wireless
services.
What Is Digital Television?
Digital Television (DTV) is an advanced broadcasting technology that
will transform your television viewing experience. DTV enables
broadcasters to offer television with better picture and sound quality. It
can also offer multiple programming choices, called multicasting, and
interactive capabilities.
Converting to DTV also will free up parts of the scarce and valuable
broadcast spectrum. Those portions of the spectrum can then be used
for other important services, such as public and safety services (police
and fire departments, emergency rescue), and advanced wireless
services.
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The Transition to Digital TV
TV stations serving all markets in the United States are airing digital
television programming today, although most will continue to provide
analog programming through June 12, 2009. At that point, full-power TV
stations will cease broadcasting on their current analog channels, and
the spectrum they use for analog broadcasting will be reclaimed and put
to other uses.
The Commission's digital tuner rule specifies that as of March 1, 2007, all
new TVs must include digital tuners. This rule prohibits the manufacture,
import, or interstate shipment of any device containing an analog tuner,
unless it also contains a digital tuner. Despite this prohibition on
manufacture and shipment, retailers may continue to sell analog-only
devices from existing inventory. As a result, at the point of sale, many
consumers may not be aware that this equipment will not be able to
receive over-the-air-television signals after June, 2009.
To address this issue, the FCC has adopted a rule requiring sellers to
display the following text if they are selling TV equipment with only an
analog broadcast tuner:
CONSUMER ALERT
This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will
require a converter box after June 12, 2009, to receive over-the-air
broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation's transition to digital
broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with
cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players,
and similar products.
TV stations serving all markets in the United States are airing digital
television programming today, although most will continue to provide
analog programming through June 12, 2009. At that point, full-power TV
stations will cease broadcasting on their current analog channels, and
the spectrum they use for analog broadcasting will be reclaimed and put
to other uses.
The Commission's digital tuner rule specifies that as of March 1, 2007, all
new TVs must include digital tuners. This rule prohibits the manufacture,
import, or interstate shipment of any device containing an analog tuner,
unless it also contains a digital tuner. Despite this prohibition on
manufacture and shipment, retailers may continue to sell analog-only
devices from existing inventory. As a result, at the point of sale, many
consumers may not be aware that this equipment will not be able to
receive over-the-air-television signals after June, 2009.
To address this issue, the FCC has adopted a rule requiring sellers to
display the following text if they are selling TV equipment with only an
analog broadcast tuner:
CONSUMER ALERT
This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will
require a converter box after June 12, 2009, to receive over-the-air
broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation's transition to digital
broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with
cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players,
and similar products.
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 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
analog 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 and 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.)
Back to: Digital Transition Information Overview
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 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
analog 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 and 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.)
Back to: Digital Transition Information Overview
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