The TV Digital Transition Starts Today!

A new digital era is upon us! Are you ready?

Today is the last day before analog television signal shuts down for good to make way for the digital. The digital transition has been in talks for just a little over a decade, with public service announcements preparing viewers since last year.

Several countries in Europe have already made the transition within the past few years, with the United States just catching up. There's no reason too feel bad, my fellow Americans—most other countries have yet to fully move to digital. Many countries like the United Kingdom have faced delays from technical complications and some have only scheduled to make their switch as late as 2020!

While the official deadline for the transition is tomorrow, June 12, 2009, over 800 television stations got a head-start on the switch. In September of 2008, Wilmington, NC was the first city in the United States to switch completely to digital signal. The FCC used the experience as a testing ground for how the transition may affect other areas around the country.

The common misconception is that a high-definition television will be needed for the transition. This angered many consumers who believed they now had to buy whole new (and then-expensive) TVs. While HDMI cables do carry a digital signal to a television, a high-definition set isn't necessary to continue watching your favorite shows on your faithful old TV.

In fact, as long as you subscribe to a cable or satellite service, you shouldn't need to do a thing! Those most affected are TV owners that rely on an antennae (or “rabbit ears”) to receive signal. TVs with digital antennas may need to be adjusted to adapt to the new signal, but otherwise will work fine.


A digital converter box is necessary to translate the digital signal over the airwaves into analog for older televisions. The US government invested over $2 billion to help people with the transition, funding vouchers to help pay for the converter boxes, public service announcements, and call support lines for those in need of further help.

Unfortunately, it's expected that approximately 3 million homes won't be able to make the switch by this weekend. The supply of government vouchers ran out well before they could get into the hands of everyone who needed one. Most of the people at risk are the elderly and those who live in deeply rural areas, whether because they could not afford a converter or news of the transition simply hadn't reached them. Additionally, viewers that live on the outskirts of broadcast areas may need to acquire a stronger digital antennae (even if they have a converter box), since digital signal has difficulty overcoming interference.

Less than 15% of American television owners rely on over-the-air signal to watch TV, but the challenges posed in the digital transition have inspired many to sign up for pay services like cable or satellite. Time Warner Cable and Direct TV gained nearly 100,000 new subscribers each within the past few months alone!

Others have investigated free online video services like Hulu to watch shows on their home computers. Even consumers who have grown tired of the increasing prices of cable or satellite have hooked their PCs to their TV as a more economical alternative.

If by Saturday morning, you wake up to a blank screen on your TV set, you can contact the FCC for help at their DTV website or call 1-888-225-5322.