Who Has to Worry about the Digital Conversion?

There is so much misinformation circulating on the Internet today regarding the U.S. conversion from analog to digital TV broadcasts. On February 17, 2009, all analog TV broadcasts in the U.S. are scheduled to cease. By that date, all over-the-air TV broadcasting will be done via digital signals. Analog TV sets, what most people have now, will no longer receive any over-the-air TV signals, unless an analog-to-digital converter is used.

However, there is no reason for most people to panic or run out and buy new TV sets or converters. Most of us can just relax because we will not be affected at all. That's because the biggest majority of us do not get our TV signals with over-the-air antennas -- we use cable or satellite. We do not have to worry because our cable or satellite operator will automatically convert the signal for us into a format compatible with our analog TV sets -- and that's even if we don't use a cable converter. Of course, if you want access to high definition television (HDTV) broadcasts, you will have to get an HDTV set, as you currently would need to do. But if all you want is access to non-HD digital broadcasts, you don't have to do anything. It will all be done for you.

Now, if you get your TV programming via an over-the-air antenna, it's a different story. You'll have to buy a digital converter or a new digital TV set between now and the completion of the digital conversion.

I hope this clears up a few things. Don't be fooled by otherwise-intelligent people who don't know any better or by HDTV advocates trying to artificially manipulate a spike in the sales of digital TVs.