Rare Medium

The transition of America’s television from analog to digital is failing. It doesn’t need to. Viewers can switch and start watching digital channels today. It’s not that expensive. It doesn’t take much time.

Sure, more people are “aware” of that conventional, analog television broadcasts will cease at midnight on February 17, 2009, but asking viewers what actions are required leaves most speechless.

Confusion about who, when, and how to receive digital television is growing. Adding to the confusion are competing messages from the government, consumer electronics retails, broadcasters, cable and satellite subscription television services.

Research indicates that 40% of viewers don’t plan to take any action until after their TV sets go dark. Low-income, minorities, handicapped, and senior citizens are even less likely to be knowledgeable or have taken action to maintain their access to television. The DTV transition risks increasing the split between those who have access to information and those who don’t throughout America.

Let me simplify what I last described as “overwhelming alternatives.” First, most experts and articles you read indicate that if you have cable or satellite, you need do nothing. That’s true. But, I want to make the case that every home in America that can receive an over-the-air signal should be equipped to do so.

Here’s why being able to receive over-the-air television signals is better:

• They Are FREE: Cable and satellite all have monthly subscription fees. These firms will be offering you “great introductory” subscription rates.

• Get All Local DTV Channels: Cable may not carry all the new channels provided by each of your local television stations. Satellite services will carry just the main channel. You can get them all.

• Better Picture Quality: Remember, digital television is not high-definition television (HDTV), but the picture quality is significantly improved. No snow. No ghosts. To squeeze more channels into less space, cable or satellite companies “compress” television signals, sent them you, and uncompress them in their set-top boxes. Over-the-air signals don’t suffer from “compression artifacts.”

• Gives You Options: Cable and satellite subscription services all must include a connector on their set top boxes so you can hook-up an indoor or out door antenna to receive over-the-air signals. Doing so means you’ll always have the option to cancel your monthly subscription and keep watching all the local digital channels (yes, you’ll need a digital TV set or to buy a DTV Converter as described below). Depending on the channels you watch, this could save some families up to $1,000 or more each year.

• Vital In Emergencies: While it’s possible that a local, regional, or national incident might result in you being unable to receive cable or satellite signals, you’ll probably still be able to receive one or more local television broadcast stations if you are prepared to receive over-the-air signals.

Whether you now have cable, satellite, or receive over-the-air television signals, you and follow these steps to make sure you can receive over-the-air digital television signals after all analog broadcasting ceases at midnight on February 17, 2009.

1) Determine if you have a TV set with a digital or analog tuner. New or recently purchased digital TV sets (manual or the back of the set will mention “ATSC” or that the tuner is digital. Older, conventional, analog TV sets will say nothing or that the tuner is NTSC (analog).

2) If your TV set receives digital, you’re either watching DTV today, or would benefit from hooking up an indoor or outdoor antenna.

3) If your TV set receives analog, you’ll need to buy a DTV Converter and connect it between your antenna and your TV set. It will convert the new digital channels to Channel 3 or 4 or your existing set. Follow these simple steps:

• Get Discount Converter Coupons: While DTV converters cost $50 to $90 — more if you want extra features — the U.S. government will provide each household with two DTV Converter Box Discount Coupons. Sign up for coupons.

• Pick A DTV Converter Box: Features vary and most stores only carry one or two models. If you live in a rural area and / or receive any television channel from a translator, relay, or low-power stations, you’ll want to select a box with the “analog pass through” feature. Discount coupons can only be redeemed on government approved DTV Converter boxes. See the list.

• Buy Your New DTV Converter Box: Note, the government’s $40 discount coupons expire just 90-days after they are issued. Millions of coupons have expired because viewers didn’t make purchasing their DTV Converter Box a high priority.

• Hook Up Your DTV Converter Box: If you already have an indoor or outdoor antenna, simply follow the instructions and connect the box between your antenna wire and your TV set. If you don’t have an indoor or outdoor antenna, talk with your neighbors who do to learn what types, heights and orientations seem to work best. Get local station info.

• Antenna Upgrades Maybe Needed: If you hook up your DTV Converter, follow the directions to “scan” for channels, and get nothing — or just a few of the stations you previously could receive over-the-air, talk with your neighbors to see if upgrading your indoor or outdoor antenna will help.

Because digital television — like digital cellphones — work or don’t work, this part can be a bit tricky and you may want to seek help from a “tech savvy” friend. Remember, you don’t want to be installing or adjusting your antenna this winter just before the shut off. Get antenna info.

Enjoy your free, over-the-air digital channels . . . and remember you have an alternative to subscription-based, pay television from cable and satellite services.

Thank you.