Are You Ready For the Switch?

If you don't already own a digital TV or converter, all you'll see is static on Feb. 17, 2009, because of a government mandate requiring stations to broadcast in digital.

You may have heard about upcoming changes in broadcasting -- that Congress passed a law requiring broadcasters to switch from analog to digital signals by Feb. 17, 2009 -- but you might not have paid attention because 2009 is so far away.

Even with two years until that deadline, many people are already preparing for the digital switch by purchasing a new television: 11.4 million digital TVs were sold in the United States in 2005, with about 19.7 million digital sets purchased in 2006. And January is a popular month for TV sales, thanks in no small part to the Super Bowl, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.

Many of these are for high-definition TV sets -- just one form of digital television. HDTV offers a wide-screen picture with far more detail and clarity than analog TV sets can provide. To view programming in high definition, you'll need an HDTV set with an HD tuner or a cable box from your cable or satellite provider.

HDTV "is like flying first class," said Jim Krause, an Indiana University professor who studies developments in television technology. "Once you fly first class, you never want to go back to coach."

If you have a cable or satellite subscription, you most likely have the equipment you need to receive a digital signal.

But if you don't want to pay for that service and you don't want to buy a digital television by 2009, you have another option. Households that watch free, over-the air television -- and there were about 20 million such homes as of 2005 -- can purchase an analog-to-digital converter box. (Analog refers to information transmitted via radio frequency waves, while digital signals send information encoded as a series of zeroes and ones.)

The boxes, currently being developed, are expected to cost about $50 when they debut later this year, and the federal government has mandated that at least $990 million be set aside to help subsidize the purchase of the converters. Every household will be eligible for up to two coupons worth $40 each to enable their analog sets to receive digital pictures. And with the signal coming over the air, TV will remain free.

"Some of the best picture reception you can get is over the air in Washington," said Bary Maddox, who owns Graffiti Audio-Video stores in the District and Bethesda. "Most people don't know that. There's no reason to get rid of your antenna."

Why is this change occurring?

· Digital television gives broadcasters the ability to use bandwidth more efficiently. Essentially, that means one station can broadcast multiple channels. More channels, more advertising. More advertising, more ad dollars. And for consumers, more channels, more choices.