Nov 20, 2008 10:55 pm US/Eastern
Make Sure Your Transition To DTV Is A Smooth One
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Television as many of us know it is about to change, and a lot of people are confused about what to do, or how much it's going to cost them to keep their screens from going blank.
In a few months, many TV stations, including WBZ, will go from analog to digital broadcasting.
Do I need a converter box?
So do you need a converter box, or even an expensive new TV? Well when WBZ's Peg Rusconi took a hidden camera into department and electronics stores to try and get answers, she learned that you can't always trust what the sales people say.
In one store a salesman said "All you need is a high definition antenna, and you'll be all set for 2009."
Not right. A high-def antenna is not required.
At another store, Peg told the salesman she has a TV, without cable service, that uses an antenna. He told her "That TV is not going to work. No matter who makes it, what year it was built, it's not going to work."
But that TV might work, if it's fairly new.
At a third store she was told "The transition is going from basic cable to digital cable."
But cable has nothing to do with it.
Following bad advice can cost you a lot of money -- hundreds of dollars if you needlessly replace a TV.
What is DTV?
So what can you do? Be informed. First, do you know what DTV is?
The digital TV change means the TV signal that comes over the air will be different with better picture and sound and more channels. But it also means that older, analog TVs that use antennas won't work.
You're fine if you have cable or satellite service, and newer TVs with antennas are also fine because they have digital tuners. But if your TV doesn't have a digital tuner and you use an antenna you don't have to spend money on a new TV, you just need a digital converter box.
Is the converter box expensive?The small converter boxes cost $50 to $60, but you can cut that cost by $40 with a coupon from the Federal Government. "This is a huge transition. There might be 15 percent of the U.S. population that gets its' TV signal over the air only," says Federal Communications Commissioner Robert McDowell during a recent visit to Boston.
So the transition affects millions of people. But after a small investment in the converter box, it's still "free" TV.
We realize this can all be a bit confusing so we've put together a special guide to tell you what you need to know.
Click here and you'll find it.
You'll also find out how to apply for the $40 discount coupon from the Federal Government
The transition happens at midnight on February 17th, 2009.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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