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DTV: Are You Ready?

Television broadcasting in the U.S. is undergoing a dramatic change.

By law, TV broadcasters nationwide, including WETA, must switch from the old method of transmitting TV signals (known as analog) to all-digital television (known as DTV) by midnight on February 17, 2009.

 

A special test on December 2

For two minutes on December 2, 2008 starting at 5:28 pm, all television stations in the Washington area will broadcast a special DTV alert at the same time. If your television set is still receiving an analog broadcast signal, you will see this alert. This means that that television set is not ready for the digital transition occurring nationwide on February 17, 2009. If your television set is receiving a digital signal, you will not see this alert and you are ready.

 

About the digital transition

The digital transition in February 2009 will only affect you if you watch a TV set that receives television signals through an antenna (for example, "rabbit ears" or a rooftop antenna) AND your TV does not have a built-in digital tuner.

WETA is committed to helping you make the switch to digital as easily as possible.

WETA is already broadcasting four digital channels in addition to Channel 26. Viewers with digital TV can immediately enjoy these additional channels — WETA HD, WETA Kids, WETA Create and The WETA Channel.
 

 

 

PBS Show: "Get Ready for Digital TV"

Famous do-it-yourselfers Kevin O'Connor (left) and Norm Abram of THIS OLD HOUSE offer digital television how-to guidance and tips to ensure that viewers across America are prepared to successfully make the switch to digital television in their homes before the analog shutoff in February 2009.

Four major questions

Please click below for answers and information on the following, and continue to visit this website as new information becomes available.

  1. Will I be affected by the digital transition?
  2. What are my options?
  3. What happens if I watch TV with an antenna and don't do anything to prepare for February 17, 2009?
  4. Will I notice any changes after I convert to digital?

Will I be affected by the digital transition?

The digital transition may have no effect on you at all. If you subscribe to cable, satellite or another pay television service, your service will continue uninterrupted on any TV that is hooked up to one of these services.

If your TV set has a digital tuner, you also won't need to do anything. (Check your owner's manual or contact the manufacturer or a local retailer to determine if your TV has a digital tuner. If your remote control will let you tune in channels that have decimal points — 26.1 instead of just 26, for example — then you have a digital TV.)

The digital transition will affect you if you watch TV sets that receive free television signals through an antenna (for example, "rabbit ears" or a rooftop antenna).

What are my options?

If you use an analog television set that receives free, over-the-air programming through an antenna, you have three options. If you don't take action, you will lose television reception on these TV sets in February 2009:

  • Purchase and install a digital TV converter box
    If you wish to keep using your analog TV set and continue to get free television after February 17, 2009, you'll need to purchase a converter box. The box converts digital signals into a traditional analog signal that your TV set can display. The converter box plugs into your TV set (and you'll still use your antenna).

    Converter boxes costs $40-$80. The federal government is offering coupons to off-set the cost. Please see Converter Boxes & Coupons for more information. If you choose the converter box route, you will need one for each TV in your home that relies on an antenna.
    Digital television converter box.

    • Antenna advice

    If you want to continue using an antenna to pick up television signals, be sure to see our Troubleshooting page or check out AntennaWeb for information on which way to point your antenna to best receive WETA's channels.
     
    Antenna Web
     

  • Purchase a new TV set with a built-in digital tuner

    If you feel the time is right for a new TV set, you can also get ready for the February 2009 transition to digital by replacing your current analog TV set with a TV that has a built-in digital tuner (a "digital TV"). Digital TVs are available starting at approximately $100.

    All new TV sets sold in the U.S. include a built-in digital tuner. They have been available for a while now, so first check to see if your current TV already has a digital tuner. (Check your owner's manual or contact the manufacturer or a local retailer to determine if your TV has a digital tuner. If your remote control will let you tune in channels that have decimal points — 26.1 instead of just 26, for example — then you have a digital TV.)

  • Subscribe to cable, satellite or another pay television service

    You can also make the switch to digital television by subscribing to cable, satellite or another pay television service.

    Please be aware that only those TVs that are hooked up to the pay TV service (or have built-in digital tuners) will get a TV signal after February 17, 2009. If you have cable on your main TV, for example, but use an antenna to get a signal on your other TVs, those TV sets will not work unless you take action and hook them up to a pay service or get converter boxes for them.

    Note: Satellite providers currently only carry the WETA HD channel. This is not expected to change after February 17.

To learn more about whether you're ready for the digital transition, take this short quiz.

What happens if I watch TV with an antenna and
don't do anything to prepare for February 17, 2009?

Your analog TV set will stop receiving television signals after February 2009 and the screen will go dark.

Will I notice any changes after I convert to digital?

WETA HD, WETA Create, WETA Kids, The WETA Channel

Yes! You'll enjoy better color, clarity and sound and more program choices than before.

WETA is already broadcasting four digital channels in addition to Channel 26. Viewers with digital TV can immediately enjoy these additional channels — WETA HD, WETA Kids, WETA Create and The WETA Channel. These channels broadcast the programs you enjoy 24 hours a day. Please see our Channel Guide page for more information on how to find and watch these television channels.

Please note that television channel numbers may change after February 2009. Most television stations, including WETA, do not yet know what all of our channel numbers will be.

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