The Digital Television (DTV) era begins in one year, and MPBN wants you to be ready for it
Did you know that all analog TV transmissions will cease as of February 17, 2009, and that if you get your television picture for free "over the air" with an antenna, your TV will no longer work unless it is a digital television, or (if it's an analog TV) unless it has a set-top converter box?
Get your convert box coupon now from DTV2009.gov
Relax. You don’t need to spend a ton of money on a TV in order to sail through the planned digital TV conversion without missing a moment of your favorite TV shows. We’ve assembled some of the material found at DTV.gov, a Web site created by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and added some of our own information to it below, in an attempt to answer some of the most common questions that come up in any discussion about digital TV, such as:
1. What is the digital television transition?
2. What if I’m a subscriber to a cable or satellite TV service?
3. Why did Congress mandate the DTV transition?
4. Will this change affect my radio, too?
5. If I have an older analog television, will I have to throw it away after February 17, 2009?
6. How do I get DTV or HDTV programming?
7. Do I need a special antenna to receive DTV over-the-air?
8. Will digital-to-analog converter boxes also convert digital closed captioning?
9. Do I have to wait until after February 17, 2009 to watch DTV?
10. How can I be sure that I am buying a digital TV (DTV)?
11. I already own a digital TV and I noticed that MPBN’s second digital channel used to broadcast different PBS programs than the ones being shown simultaneously on its analog channel. Now both channels show the same thing. Why did MPBN do this?
12. If I want a new TV, will I have to buy a High Definition TV (HDTV) to watch digital broadcast television after the transition?
13. My cable operator offers a digital cable package. Is this the same as HDTV?
1. What is the digital television transition?
The switch from analog to digital broadcast television is referred to as the digital TV (DTV) transition. In 1996, Congress authorized the distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each broadcast TV station so that they could start a digital broadcast channel while simultaneously continuing their analog broadcast channel. Later, Congress mandated that February 17, 2009 would be the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog. Broadcast stations in all U.S. markets are currently broadcasting in both analog and digital. After that date, television stations including MPBN will broadcast in digital only. (back to top)
2. What if I’m a subscriber to a cable or satellite TV service?
Then you shouldn’t notice a thing. It’s only the means of delivering free over-the-air television signals that is changing. Cable and satellite TV companies will continue to deliver signals from local stations to you as they have in the past in compliance with FCC “must-carry” rules. (back to top)
3. Why did Congress mandate the DTV transition?
A benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police and fire departments, etc.). In addition, DTV also provides the opportunity for improved picture and sound quality. Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to wireless companies for the provision of advanced commercial wireless services (such as wireless broadband). The government stands to raise billions of dollars through the auction of the analog spectrum.
With the transition to digital, consumers will also benefit from a more efficient technology than the outdated analog system. For example, rather than being limited to providing one analog programming channel, a broadcaster will be able to provide a super sharp “High Definition” (HD) program or multiple “Standard Definition” (SD) digital programs simultaneously. Providing several simultaneous programs on one broadcast channel is called “multicasting.” This means broadcasters can offer more choices of programming. Further, DTV can provide interactive video and data services that are not possible with analog technology. (back to top)
4. Will this change affect my radio, too?
No. Your analog radio will still work fine after February 17, 2009, although MPBN does broadcast a digital version of its radio signal as well that requires a digital radio to receive. In the future, MPBN may utilize the potential of this digital signal to offer more than one channel of radio programming, too. But the DTV transition is limited only to television – radio won’t be affected. (back to top)
5. If I have an older analog television, will I have to throw it away after February 17, 2009?
No. A digital-to-analog converter box will allow you to continue using your existing analog TV to watch over-the-air digital broadcasts. You do not need to get rid of your existing analog TV. In addition, analog sets should continue to work as before if connected to a subscription service such as cable or satellite TV. (back to top)
6. How do I get DTV or HDTV programming?
In order to receive over-the-air digital programming (as opposed to digital programming provided by a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV service), you will need: (1) a DTV or an analog TV connected to a digital-to-analog converter box and (2) a broadcast antenna (either a rooftop antenna or “rabbit ears” connected to your set). Whether the programming is Standard Definition (SD) or High Definition (HD) depends on whether the broadcaster is broadcasting it as such. (back to top)
7. Do I need a special antenna to receive DTV over-the-air?
In general, dependable reception of over-the-air digital TV programming requires the same type of signal reception equipment that currently works to provide good reception of analog TV programming.
If you need a rooftop antenna to receive analog TV broadcasts, the same antenna generally will work to receive digital TV broadcasts. You should not have to purchase new antennas that are marketed as “digital ready” or “HD ready.” (back to top)
8. Will digital-to-analog converter boxes also convert digital closed captioning?
Yes. FCC rules require that digital-to-analog converter boxes be able to convert over-the-air digital closed captioning for display on analog TV sets. (back to top)
9. Do I have to wait until after February 17, 2009 to watch DTV?
No. Digital television is available now. In fact, MPBN has been broadcasting digital TV signals since 1999, simultaneously alongside its analog signals. (back to top)
10. How can I be sure that I am buying a digital TV (DTV)?
By law, as of March 1, 2007, all television reception devices imported into the U.S. or shipped in interstate commerce must contain a digital tuner. Retailers may continue to sell analog-only devices from existing inventory, but must prominently display on or near the analog-only device a Consumer Alert label with an advisory to that effect. Therefore, all television equipment being sold should contain a digital tuner, or should be identified at the point-of-sale as not having one. Be aware of this label and the limitations of analog-only devices if you are purchasing a new TV or other TV equipment. (back to top)
11. I already own a digital TV and I noticed that MPBN’s second digital channel used to broadcast different PBS programs than the ones being shown simultaneously on its analog channel. Now both channels show the same thing. Why did MPBN do this?
That change was made in preparation for the day when MPBN turns its second digital channel into a full-fledged second Maine public television station, with other local programs and underwriters. For MPBN to do that, the signal has to emanate locally from MPBN’s master control studio, not directly from PBS as had been the case when, for years, MPBN simply broadcast the PBS High Definition (PBS HD) channel as a “pass through,” to use industry jargon. In any case, MPBN has no plans to do anything new with the second digital signal until sometime after February 2009, but the planning needs to take place well in advance of that date, and from MPBN’s perspective, sooner is better than later. (back to top)
12. If I want a new TV, will I have to buy a High Definition TV (HDTV) to watch digital broadcast television after the transition?
No. It is important to understand that the DTV transition is a transition from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. It is not a transition from analog broadcasting to High Definition broadcasting. Digital broadcasting allows for High Definition broadcasts, but High Definition is not required, and you do not need to buy a HDTV to watch digital TV. A Standard Definition DTV (which is simply a TV with an internal digital tuner), or a digital-to-analog converter box hooked to an analog TV, is all that is required to continue watching over-the-air broadcast television. Digital broadcast television includes both Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) formats. You can watch High Definition programming on a Standard Definition DTV (or on an analog TV hooked to a digital-to-analog converter box), but it won’t be in full High Definition quality. It is also important to know that Standard Definition DTVs are comparably priced to similar sized analog TVs. (back to top)
13. My cable operator offers a digital cable package. Is this the same as HDTV?
No. “Digital cable” and High Definition programming on cable are not the same. If you want to watch HDTV programming on cable, you will need to subscribe to your cable provider’s HDTV package and view the programming on an HDTV set. You may also need a set-top box or other equipment to view HDTV programming. Check with your cable provider to find out what kinds of programming you can receive, and what equipment you need to receive it.
For More About Digital TV visit DTV.gov
Get your convert box coupon now from DTV2009.gov
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