The upcoming switch from analog to digital broadcast television is referred to as the digital TV  transition or DTV transition.  In 1996, the U.S. Congress authorized the distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each broadcast TV station so that they could start a digital broadcast channel while simultaneously continuing their analog broadcasting channel.  Later, Congress mandated that February 17, 2009 would be the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog.  Broadcast stations in all U.S. markets are currently broadcasting in both analog and digital.  After February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations will broadcast in digital only.

 

 

Because Congress mandated that the last day for all full-power television stations to broadcast in analog would be February 17, 2009, all over-the-air TV broadcasts will be in digital only after that date.  If you have one or more televisions that receive free over-the-air television programming (with a roof-top antenna or “rabbit ears” on the TV), the type of TV you own is very important.  A digital television (a TV with an internal digital tuner) will allow you to continue to watch free over-the-air programming after February 17, 2009.  However, if you have an analog television, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box, a DTV converter, to continue to watch broadcast television on that set.  This DTV converter box will also enable you to see any additional multicast programming that your local stations are offering.