Making It Clear
Answers to Questions about Digital Television

1. What is the digital television transition?
The switch from analog to digital television is referred to as the digital TV (DTV) transition. In 1996, Congress authorized the distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each TV station so that they could start a digital broadcast channel while simultaneously continuing their analog channel. Later, Congress mandated that February 17, 2009, would be the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog format. Stations in all U.S. markets are currently Broadcasting both analog and digital program streams. After that date, television stations including KRCB, will broadcast in digital format only.

2. What if I’m a subscriber to a cable or satellite TV service?
Then you shouldn’t notice a thing.

3. Why did Congress mandate the DTV transition?
The switch to all-digital broadcasting will free up parts of the broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police and fire departments, etc.) In addition, DTV provides improved picture and sound quality. Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to wireless companies for advanced commercial wireless services (such as wireless broadband). The government stands to raise billions of dollars through the auction of the analog spectrum.
With the transition to digital format, consumers will benefit from a more efficient technology than the outdated analog system. For example, rather than being limited to one analog programming channel, a broadcaster will be able to provide a free, super sharp “High Definition” (HD) program or multiple, free “Standard Definition” (SD) digital programs simultaneously. Providing several simultaneous programs on one broadcast channel is called “multicasting”. This means broadcasters can offer more choices of programming. KRCB has been multicasting since 2003, and now offers three different digital program streams simultaneously. Further, DTV can provide interactive video and data services that are not possible with analog technology. In addition, signal quality will be better over the entire viewing area. Digital broadcasts are not subject to the same “fade-out” at the edges of the reception area that analog broadcasts are.

4. Will this change affect my radio, too? This transition is only mandated for TV.
No. Your analog radio will still work fine after February 17,2009. The FCC is not mandating digital radio but allowing stations to decide wheter or not to broadcast digital. In the future, KRCB FM may broadcast in digital.

5. If I have an older analog television, will I have to throw it away after February 17, 2009?
No. A digital-to-analog converter box will allow you to continue using your existing analog TV to watch over-the- air digital broadcasts. You do not need to get rid of your existing analog TV. In addition, analog sets should continue to work as before if connected to a subscription service such as cable or satellite TV.

6. How do I get free DTV or HDTV programming?
In order to receive free, over-the-air, digital programming (as opposed to digital programming provided by a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV service), you will need: (1) a Digital TV (DTV) or an analog TV connected to a digital-to-analog converter box and (2) a broadcast antenna (either a rooftop antenna or “rabbit ears” connected to your set.) Whether the programming is Standard Definition (SD) or High Definition (HD) depends on whether the broadcaster is airing it.

7. You mean I don’t need a special antenna to receive DTV over-the-air?
In general, dependable reception of over-the-air, digital TV programming requires the same type of signal reception equipment that currently works for analog TV programming.
If you need a rooftop antenna to receive analog TV broadcasts, the same antenna generally will work to receive digital TV broadcasts. You should not have to purchase a new antenna marketed as “digital ready” or “HD ready.”

8. Will digital-to-analog converter boxes also convert digital closed-captioning?
Yes. FCC rules require that digital-to-analog converter boxes to convert over-the-air digital closed-captioning for display on analog TV sets.

9. Do I have to wait until after February 17, 2009 to watch DTV?
No. Digital television is available now. In fact, KRCB has been simultaneously broadcasting digital and analog signals since 2003. Currently KRCB offers a variety of programming on Channels 22-1, 22-2 and 22-3

10. How can I be sure that I am buying a digital TV (DTV)?
By law, as of March 1, 2007, all television reception devices 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 with an advisory to that effect. Therefore, all television equipment being sold should contain a digital tuner, or should be identified at the point-of­sale as not having one. Be aware of this label and the limitations of analog-only devices if you are purchasing a new TV or other TV equipment.

11. If I want a new TV, will I have to buy a High Definition TV (HDTV) to watch digital broadcast television after the transition?
No. It is important to understand that the DTV transition is a transition from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. It is not a transition from analog broadcasting to High Definition broadcasting. Digital broadcasting allows for High Definition broadcasts, but High Definition is not required, and you do not need to buy a HDTV to watch digital TV. A Standard Definition DTV (which is simply a TV with an internal digital tuner), or a digital-to-analog converter box hooked to an analog TV, is all that is required to continue watching over-the-air broadcast television. Digital broadcast television includes both Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) formats. You can watch High Definition programming on a Standard Definition DTV (or on an analog TV hooked to a digital-to-analog converter box), but it won’t be in full High Definition quality. It is also important to know that Standard Definition DTVs are comparably priced to similar sized analog TVs.

12. My cable operator offers a digital cable package. Is this the same as HDTV?
No. “Digital cable” and High Definition programming on cable are not the same. If you want to watch HDTV programming on cable, you will need to subscribe to your cable provider’s HDTV package and view the programming on an HDTV set. You may also need a set-top box or other equipment to view HDTV programming. Check with your cable provider to find out what kinds of programming you can receive, and what equipment you need to receive it.

DTV Glossary from DTV.gov

Analog TV: Analog technology has been in use for the past 60 years to transmit conventional TV signals to consumers. Most current television transmissions are received through analog television sets. Analog signals vary continuously, creating fluctuations in color and brightness.

Datacasting: Also known as “enhanced TV,” datacasting is the act of providing enhanced options offered with some digital programming to provide additional program material or non-program related resources. This allows viewers the ability to download data (video, audio, text, graphics, maps, services, etc.) to specially equipped computers, cache boxes, set-top boxes, or DTV receivers.

Digital: Digital refers to the circuitry in which data-carrying signals are restricted to one of two voltage levels, corresponding to logic 1 or 0.

Digital Cable: A service provided by many cable providers, digital cable offers viewers more channels. Contrary to many consumers’ beliefs, digital cable is not the same as High Definition television or digital television; rather digital cable simply offers cable subscribers the options of paying for more services.

Digital Monitor: DTV monitors are televisions that can display a digital signal but lack an integrated tuner (unlike an integrated digital set), and thus cannot receive a digital broadcast signal without an additional set-top box.

Digital Television (DTV): Digital TV is the umbrella term encompassing High Definition television and several other applications, including Standard Definition television, datacasting, multicasting and interactivity.

Multicasting: The option to multicast was made possible by digital technology to allow each digital broadcast station to split its bit stream into 2, 3, 4 or more individual channels of programming and/or data services. (For example, on channel 23, you could watch 23 - 1 - 2 - 3.)

Set-Top Converter Box: This unit sits on top of the viewer’s analog TV, receives the Digital TV signal, converts it to an analog signal and then sends that signal on to the analog TV.

For More About Digital TV visit DTV.gov