Getting Ready for the Biggest Change in TV Since Color

A lot of us can remember the early days of television when TV sets were big, bulky, and broadcast only in black and white. Sixty years ago only a handful of cities had TV stations and homes that had TV sets generally only had one. There were no TV stations that broadcasted 24/7 and after midnight you would turn on your TV set only to find a test pattern.

It was a big deal when color TV sets started showing up in homes in the late 1960's and early 1970's to replace the black and white sets we had been watching. Now, America is preparing for the next major step which will be the biggest change in television since color TV.

Soon to be All Digital
On February 17, 2009, all TV stations in the U.S. will cease broadcasting in analog and will only broadcast digital television signals. With the switch to digital, if you use an antenna and do not have cable or satellite, you will not be able to watch TV on your analog set unless you have a digital converter box.

Approximately 12 percent of television viewers in Nebraska are antenna-only viewers. The following are estimates from the Senate Commerce Committee on the number of antenna-only viewers within the state:

Hastings, Kearney and Lincoln: 34,830 households.
North Platte: 1,680 households.
South Sioux City area: 24,340 households.
Omaha: 46,310 households.

Why Do It?
An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will allow for freed bandwidth which emergency responders will be able to utilize for new public safety communications services.

Additionally, some of the spectrum will be auctioned off to wireless companies so that consumers are provided with advanced wireless services such as wireless broadband. The revenue from this auction will go towards deficit reduction.

The Senate has declared August as "Digital Television Transition Awareness Month" to advise people to be aware of the upcoming switch to a digital television signal. We don’t want anyone to miss out, so those who do not have cable or satellite need to get a converter box so they may continue to receive their TV signal through an antenna.

Help is Available
The digital TV conversion program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, to go towards the purchase of a converter box. Coupons can be requested at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ or you may call the 24 hour hotline toll free at 1-888-DTV-2009.

Everyone wants the digital TV conversion day to go as smoothly as possible, so please take a moment to review your current television broadcasting system and take the steps necessary to make sure you are prepared for the February 17, 2009 transition date.

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	Column	August 11, 2008
Getting Ready for the Biggest Change in TV Since Color A lot of us can remember the early days of television when TV sets were big, bulky, and broadcast only in black and white. Sixty years ago only a handful of cities had TV stations and homes that had TV sets generally only had one. There were no TV stations that broadcasted 24/7 and after midnight you would turn on your TV set only to find a test pattern. It was a big deal when color TV sets started showing up in homes in the late 1960's and early 1970's to replace the black and white sets we had been watching. Now, America is preparing for the next major step which will be the biggest change in television since color TV. Soon to be All Digital On February 17, 2009, all TV stations in the U.S. will cease broadcasting in analog and will only broadcast digital television signals. With the switch to digital, if you use an antenna and do not have cable or satellite, you will not be able to watch TV on your analog set unless you have a digital converter box. Approximately 12 percent of television viewers in Nebraska are antenna-only viewers. The following are estimates from the Senate Commerce Committee on the number of antenna-only viewers within the state: Hastings, Kearney and Lincoln: 34,830 households. North Platte: 1,680 households. South Sioux City area: 24,340 households. Omaha: 46,310 households. Why Do It? An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will allow for freed bandwidth which emergency responders will be able to utilize for new public safety communications services. Additionally, some of the spectrum will be auctioned off to wireless companies so that consumers are provided with advanced wireless services such as wireless broadband. The revenue from this auction will go towards deficit reduction. The Senate has declared August as "Digital Television Transition Awareness Month" to advise people to be aware of the upcoming switch to a digital television signal. We don’t want anyone to miss out, so those who do not have cable or satellite need to get a converter box so they may continue to receive their TV signal through an antenna. Help is Available The digital TV conversion program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, to go towards the purchase of a converter box. Coupons can be requested at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ or you may call the 24 hour hotline toll free at 1-888-DTV-2009. Everyone wants the digital TV conversion day to go as smoothly as possible, so please take a moment to review your current television broadcasting system and take the steps necessary to make sure you are prepared for the February 17, 2009 transition date. ###