Digital Television Transition

Digital television is here, and it's changing the way we watch and interact with TV. Digital television will allow stations to broadcast programs in much higher resolution or clarity than standard analog television. Digital television is arguably expanding to include video content delivered digitally, whether through the internet or even formats like Windows Media High Definition Video which can be downloaded or served up on a DVD. Digital television will provide consumers with a clearer picture, more programming and will free up much needed spectrum for advanced wireless broadband services and interoperable communications among emergency first responders.

Transition

On 1 September 2006, Luxembourg became the first European country to transition completely to DTT. This mandate was designed to help provide a painless transition to the new standards. In addition, effective May 25, 2007, the Commission required sellers of television receiving equipment that does not include a digital tuner to disclose at the point-of-sale that such devices include only an analog tuner, and therefore will require a digital-to-analog converter box to receive over-the-air broadcast television after the transition date. Cable system operators are trying to provide at least five HD channels to comply with the FCCs wishes to move the digital transition along. Many public television licensees will incur transition costs that exceed their projected annual revenues. Once broadcasters transition from analog to digital, will analog televisions will be obsolete. These converter boxes will be available in retail stores during the transition. Analog broadcasting will continue until the end of the transition period, which currently is set for February 17, 2009.

Consumer

Consumers should then ensure that their televisions are set up to receive over-the-air programming (as distinguished from the signals of a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV service), and then tune to the over-the-air digital channels to see if they can receive the digital broadcast programming. Consumers, as they are denied access to high quality digital content in the home. Consumers would never choose this future, so Hollywood will try to force it on them by regulatory fiat. Consumers will find the cost-benefit analysis needed to figure out if they are getting a good deal will be a painful exercise. Consumer groups say this is only fair because the government is essentially reducing the value of people's property. Consumers Union says the transition, as currently planned, is "totally unworkable and unfair to consumers.

Digital television is a new broadcasting technology that uses digital signals rather than analog signals. Digital television must be the most misleading market ever witnessed. Digital Television is an exciting new technology that changes the way that Free to Air television broadcasters provide their television broadcasts to you, the viewer. Digital television provides better picture quality, improved sound and superior reception to your existing analogue television service. Digital television also allows broadcasters to provide certain programs in a very high quality picture format equal to that shown in movie cinemas.