What is HDTV & DTV?
What is HDTV & DTV?
What is the HDTV/DTV transition?
Why are we changing?
Why is HDTV & DTV better?
How can I get ready?
Where can I find additional information?
What is HDTV & DTV?
Digital television (DTV) is a new type of broadcasting technology. DTV is delivered digitally, allowing the television signal to be virtually free of interference. DTV is more efficient than analog, the current broadcasting technology, and allows broadcasters to offer television with improved picture quality and surround sound. DTV will replace today’s analog television broadcasting system by February 17, 2009.
High-definition television (HDTV) is a form of DTV that provides the highest resolution and picture quality of all DTV formats. A current analog TV display is made up of 480 horizontal lines, but an HDTV picture can have up to 1080 lines. This allows for much sharper picture detail. The most common formats of HDTV are 720p and 1080i. HD-DVD and Blu-ray players allow viewing of HDTV format discs.
Other forms of DTV include Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV) and Standard Definition TV (SDTV). EDTV provides a 480p resolution, and is currently the format of traditional DVD discs. SDTV provides up to a 480i resolution, and is the baseline display and resolution for both analog and digital television.
SOURCE: FCC; DTV.gov
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What is the HDTV/DTV transition?
TV stations serving all markets in the United States are airing digital television programming today, although most will continue to provide analog programming through February 17, 2009. At that point, full-power TV stations will cease broadcasting on their current analog channels, and the spectrum they use for analog broadcasting will be reclaimed and put to other uses.
This means consumers that view over-the-air antenna signals on analog televisions will no longer receive a television signal. In order to be prepared for the upcoming transition consumers will need to either:
- Install a digital converter box like the GE Smart Digital Converter Box
- Invest in a television with a digital tuner
- Subscribe to cable, satellite, or Internet television
SOURCE: FCC; DTV.gov
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Why are we changing?
In the 1990s, Congress determined that broadcast stations must transition from analog television broadcasting to digital television broadcasting. Converting to DTV will free up parts (“bands”) of the scarce and valuable broadcast spectrum, allowing these bands to be used for public safety and emergency services, such as police, fire and medical services, and new wireless services, such as wireless broadband.
Because public safety and emergency services have become even more important today, Congress established a “hard” DTV transition deadline that requires all full-power television stations to cease analog broadcasts after February 17, 2009. Until then, most television stations will continue broadcasting on both their digital and analog channels. Currently, more than 1,600 television stations throughout the United States are broadcasting digital programs.
SOURCE: FCC; DTV.gov
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Why is HDTV & DTV better?
Digital television offers many advantages over analog television for viewing broadcast signals. DTV is more versatile and efficient than analog television and allows stations to broadcast more programming using less broadcast spectrum. In the same bandwidth as one analog channel, a broadcaster may now provide a super-sharp high-definition television (HDTV) program or multiple standard definition (SDTV) programs. Providing several simultaneous program streams in one broadcast signal is called multicasting, which increases the amount of programming a broadcast channel can provide to the viewer.
Television stations serving every market in the United States are currently delivering digital television programming. For a list of TV stations currently broadcasting in digital, visit http://www.nab.org/AM/ASPCode/DTVStations/DTVStations.asp
SOURCE: FCC; DTV.gov
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How can I get ready?
Follow our user tips to get form an action plan for the DTV transition well ahead of the February 17, 2009, deadline.
Educate yourself. Resources like gehdtv.com, dtv.gov, and mydtv2009.gov provide valuable information to make your DTV decisions.
Take inventory. Quickly survey all the television setups in your home, making note if you own an analog television or use an over-the-air antenna signal. If any of your analog televisions use outdoor or rabbit ear antennas, then you will need to take action to maintain your television service.
Make decisions. Currently there are three solutions to make your television setup DTV ready:
- Hook up a digital converter box like the GE Smart Digital Converter Box
Estimated one-time cost: $10 (with a $40 TV digital converter box coupon)
- Buy a new television with a digital tuner
Estimated one-time cost: $100 to $7,000
- Invest in cable, satellite, or Internet television service
Estimated yearly cost: $240 to $1,200
Save money. The government is offering up to two $40 coupon vouchers for the purchase of a digital converter box, like the GE Smart Digital Converter Box. Check out mydtv2009.gov for more information.
Buy early. Most stations are already broadcasting DTV, so you don’t have to wait until February 2009 to take advantage of digital programming. The GE Smart Digital Converter box will be available for purchase online and at participating retailers in early 2008.
Take action. Installing a GE Smart Digital Converter box is as easy as 1-2-3! Just hook up the line from your old antenna or new Smart Digital Antenna to the digital converter box and attach the digital converter box line to your TV. You are now DTV ready!
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Where can I find more information?
The FCC and NTIA are facilitating and directing the DTV transition and TV Digital Converter Box Coupon Program. Please visit the following websites for more information:
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