New Web Site/Ads explain Digital TV Needs for Consumers
It's about time. I can't tell you how many times I've been asked by friends or family, "Am I gonna need a new TV?" Well, here's your answer.
It's one of the biggest technical changes in television since color TV: the digital transition. And because many Americans remain in the dark about it, federal regulators began an education campaign Monday to enlighten them.
At a news conference, Powell announced a new Web site to answer questions about digital TV. It will explain what viewers will need once broadcasters switch from transmitting analog signals to digital and list high-definition programming offered in local communities.
Congress set a target of December 2006 for broadcasters to shift from analog transmissions to digital. The date is widely expected to slip because only a small slice of the population has digital televisions, or DTVs.
For those who don't have cable or satellite TV and don't want to shell out hundreds of dollars for a new set, a converter box will be available to receive and decode digital signals. They cost about $200 each.