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Your Television

Will I still be able to watch television on my existing TV set?
Do I need cable or satellite service to receive Digital TV at home?
How do I know whether I have an analog or a digital television?
If I want to buy a new TV, will I have to buy a High Definition TV (HDTV) to watch digital broadcast television after the transition?
How can I be sure that I am buying a Digital TV (DTV)?
I have a handheld or battery-powered TV. Will this work after February 17, 2009? Can I connect it to a converter box?

Q. Will I still be able to watch television on my existing TV set?

A. Digital-to-analog converter boxes make DTV signals viewable on all analog TV sets. These converter boxes will be available in retail stores throughout the transition. A converter box, which functions as a digital tuner, must be hooked up to each analog television you use. In order to experience true High Definition and the full range of benefits offered by digital television, however, viewers will need new digital television receivers and displays.

Q. Do I need cable or satellite service to receive Digital TV at home?

A. No. Digital TV is an over-the-air broadcast system that does not require special wiring to the home. You will need either a converter box or a television with an integrated digital receiver. However, digital channels from WPT and most commercial stations are available from both cable and satellite providers.

Q. How do I know whether I have an analog or a digital television?

A. Every TV set made before 1998 was a traditional "analog" television. Between 1998 and 2004, a limited number of big-screen, projection TV set included digital tuners. If you have purchased a new TV set since 2004, there is a high likelihood that it has a digital tuner.

Many DTVs and digital television equipment will have labels or markings on them, or statements in the informational materials that came with them, to indicate that they contain digital tuners. If the labels or markings "Integrated Digital Tuner," "Digital Tuner Built-in," "DTV," "ATSC," or "HDTV" appear on your television equipment, you should be able to view digital over-the-air programming without the need for a digital-to-analog converter box. If you cannot determine whether your television set or other television equipment contains a digital tuner, you are advised to check your equipment for the manufacturer name and model number, and then contact your consumer electronics retailer or the manufacturer.

Q. If I want to buy a new TV, will I have to buy a High Definition TV (HDTV) to watch digital broadcast television after the transition?

A. No. It is important to understand that the Digital TV transition is a transition from analog to all-digital broadcasting, not a transition from analog to High Definition broadcasting. High Definition is a type of digital broadcasting, but High Definition is not required, and you do not need an HD television to watch Digital TV. 

A television with an internal digital tuner, or a digital-to-analog converter box connected to an analog TV, is all that is required to continue watching over-the-air broadcast television. You can watch High Definition programming on a digital TV (or on an analog TV hooked to a converter box), but it won’t be in full High Definition quality.

Q. How can I be sure that I am buying a Digital TV (DTV)?

A. By law, beginning March 1, 2007, all television reception devices (including TVs, VCRs, DVRs, etc.) imported into the U.S. or shipped in interstate commerce must contain a digital tuner. Retailers may continue to sell analog-only devices from existing inventory, but must prominently display on or near the analog-only device a Consumer Alert label that indicates that it is analog-only and will require a digital-to-analog converter box after February 17, 2009. Therefore, all television equipment being sold should contain a digital tuner, or should be identified at point-of-sale as not having one.

Q. I have a handheld or battery-powered TV. Will this work after February 17, 2009? Can I connect it to a converter box?

A. In most cases, handheld or battery-powered analog TV sets will not work after the digital transition; however, if the TV must has an available RF or Line input jack, you can connect it to a TV converter box.