T-Minus-Zero: Digital TV Transition Hits Today (Finally)
You can't say nobody warned you. After months and months of ubiquitous announcements (many from the President, himself), and a four-month postponement just to be sure, TV broadcasts will, finally, go exclusively digital today.
Fortunately, most U.S. households are prepared. Still, though, according to a Wall Street Journal report, Nielsen estimates that 2.8 million are not. Slightly (but only slightly) more optimistic is the National Association of Broadcasters, which puts the number of analog-only households at 2.1 million. By the end of the day today, that two-odd million will be without television. We doubt that too many of Switched's readers are in that number, but -- just in case any of you are or are unsure -- indulge us with a quick run-down of the situation.
First off, if you're a cable or satellite TV subscriber, you're set. If you don't subscribe to such a service, but do have a digital TV, you're fine, too. If, however, your TV requires a pair of rabbit ears to get a signal, you'll need to take one of the two following steps, or else go without television (which might not be all bad, really).
- Buy a new TV. This is our suggested route. After all, digital television sets can be had for pretty dang cheap these days. Best Buy offers this one, for instance, for just over $150.
- Get a converter box. If, for whatever reason, you don't want to buy a new TV, get yourself a digital-to-analog converter. Before you do, get up to two of the $40 coupons that the FCC is currently offering. You could put those coupons, for instance, towards Best Buy's cheapest offering: Apex's DT250 converter. With a price of $49.99, you should be able to get that sucker for free.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
xzeleous said 3:56PM on 6-12-2009
I bet people will be complaining all over the place that they still arent ready. People drag their feet in the face of all change.
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Isaac Waller said 5:40PM on 6-12-2009
Second!
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Mark Savage said 11:26PM on 6-12-2009
Hi,
just wanted to say that everyone has had fair and ample warning this digital transition was coming and if they haven't gotten ready by now, its they're own fault. I've had a friend who's had a digital converter box for sometime now and they've had to replace two already; both were major problems from the begining. Don't know what brand, but they ended up buying a new digital set and by her being elderly and on a fixed SS income, this was a major expense; but, she's well pleased with the new TV ( believe its a Sanyo, but not sure ). I have dish network, so my old analog Tv will work just fine, but I know I'll have to replace it with a digital set when the time comes to buy another set. Best wishes to everyone. Mark Savage, Lumberton, NC
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sonya allstun said 8:26PM on 6-13-2009
been ready for ages but now I dont have NO tv. I have scanned all day and for the last month and no channels other then one analog signal they kept running. I am in the boonies.
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