The transition to WSKG digital TV made easy.Legislation passed by Congress in 2005 requires that all television stations in the U.S. convert their broadcast signals from analog to digital by February 17, 2009. Most U.S. stations, including WSKG TV, already broadcast a digital signal in addition to analog. The shutoff of WSKG’s analog UHF channel 46 on February 17, 2009 may affect you.
Here’s a simple guide to the upcoming digital changes so you can enjoy even greater variety on WSKG TV.
| What is the analog-to-digital transition? |
Analog broadcasting has been used to transmit television signals since television was invented. Legislation passed by Congress in 2005 requires that all television stations in the U.S. must convert their broadcast signals from analog to digital by February 17, 2009. More than 90 percent of all U.S. stations, including WSKG, already broadcast a digital signal. |
| How will this affect me? |
If you now watch an analog-only TV using an antenna or rabbit ears to receive WSKG and other local stations, you will need to make some changes to continue watching television after February 17, 2009:
If you
already have a TV with a digital tuner, or have cable or
satellite service, your television reception should continue
uninterrupted. You should be able to continue
watching your existing TV with your current cable or satellite
service, though some services
may require the addition of, or a change in, your set-top
box. Check with your service provider to find out their
plans and the details. |
| Is there an alternative to buying a new TV? |
Yes. A DTV converter box will make it possible to see digitally broadcast television programs on an older analog TV set after the 2009 analog transmitter shutoff. The federal government has been working with manufacturers and the TV industry to develop a simple converter box that will receive digital signals and convert them to analog. This box will likely only convert basic off-air signals but not offer all the services that digital makes possible. TV converter boxes are not expected to be available in retail stores until late February or early March 2008. If you buy the set-top converter box, there’s no need to buy a new TV unless you choose to. You will need one digital-to-analog converter box for each TV set or other device (such as a VCR) that only has an analog tuner. The digital-to-analog converter box basically replaces the analog tuner in one piece of equipment. So if you want to use your analog TV and VCR at the same time (for example, to watch one program and record another simultaneously), you will need two digital-to-analog converter boxes. Concerned
about Closed Captioning and convertor boxes? |
| How much will a converter box cost? |
| DTV
converter boxes, available for purchase soon, are expected to
carry a one-time cost of between $50 and $70. In
an effort to help consumers cover the cost of the converter
box, on January 1 the federal government began offering converter
box coupons valued at $40 each, up to two coupons per household.
Each coupon may be used toward the purchase of a single eligible
DTV converter box. Coupons will be mailed to those who request
them, and consumers will have approximately three months to
redeem them. A
TV connected to cable, NOTE: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) kicked off its DTV converter box coupon program on January 1, 2008 and took orders for over 1.5 million coupons in the first 48 hours of the program. This is important news because there is sufficient funding for only 33.5 million coupons, while approximately 70 million television sets need an upgrade, so it's important to act today if you need a coupon.. Between Jan. 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, households will be able to request coupons while supplies last in one of four ways:
To simply learn more about how the digital TV transition may affect you, call (toll-free) 1-888-388-2009 (1-888-DTV-2009) or visit www.dtv2009.gov. The first batch of coupons will not be mailed until February 17, 2008. Coupons expire after 90 days.There are no income guidelines for eligibility. |
| How do I tell if my TV set is analog or digital? |
If your TV is several years old, it is most likely analog. If you’re in doubt, check your owner’s manual to see it if mentions a digital tuner, or look at the set for an indication of an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) or QAM tuner. If it has one, your set can process a digital signal. You can also check the manufacturer’s Web site for full details about your particular model. If there’s no mention of digital, QAM or ATSC, then you have an analog set. For more information see: http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#faq8 |
| What are my choices if I decide to buy a new TV? |
If you want to upgrade to a new TV set, you’ll need to choose between simple digital TV (standard-definition) and high-definition TV (with a superior picture). Although prices are coming down, high-definition TVs are still more expensive than simple digital sets. Analog-only sets have not been shipped from manufacturers since March 1, 2007, but they are still on the shelves in some stores, so be sure that any set you buy includes a digital tuner. (All analog sets for sale now require displayed warnings that they will not function alone after February 2009). High-definition television (HDTV) is one of several digital formats and is superior to others because it produces the highest quality result. While a standard digital picture consists of 480 horizontal lines on the screen, HD uses 1080 lines to compose a much more precisely tuned and beautifully detailed TV picture. An HD signal also includes Dolby digital surround sound, which offers a superior sound experience as well. There are several excellent retailers locally. Make sure that you get a receiver that has a digital tuner included. We recommend that you get a set that has a 16 x 9 aspect ratio (the shape of wide screen movies) and not one that is essentially square like your old TV. For more information check out the FCC's DTV Shoppers Guide at: http://www.dtv.gov/shopgde.html DTV Shoppers Guide - A handy guide that can be folded up, put in your pocket and taken out to consult when you’re in a store looking at digital TVs. Concerned about
Closed Captioning on Digital Television? |
| Is WSKG changing its broadcasts? | ||||||||||||
WSKG has been broadcasting digital channels for over a year including WSKG-HD, WSKG Create, and WSKA-HD. After the transition to digital is complete, we expect to have at least four digital channels, offering our audience many more program options and viewing times. WSKG Channel Line-up:
|
| Will my existing VCR, DVD player or camcorders continue to work? |
| They
should all continue to function properly in standard-definition
digital but if you’re recording from high-definition digital,
the resulting copy will be in standard definition. Digital television sets are “backward compatible,” meaning existing analog equipment (VCR's, DVD players, camcorders, video games, etc.) will work on digital TV sets. However, their video will only be displayed in the maximum resolution that is available with each analog product. Manufacturers are producing a number of different connectors to hook equipment together and improve picture and sound quality when DTV's are used with existing analog equipment. Check with your retailer to determine the types of connectors that will work with your equipment |
Though
you’ll still need to add a converter box or invest in a
digital TV, if your antenna provides a good incoming signal now,
it should
continue to work with a digital signal. Antenna
questions? Click here: http://www.antennaweb.org
Will
my antenna work with digital signals?
| Why is this transition necessary? Is digital really better than analog? |
| There
will be many advantages to an all-digital broadcast system. Digital
television (DTV) allows multiple programs to be broadcast simultaneously
within the same bandwidth previously used for a single analog program.
This means WSKG TV will be able to offer more channels, programs,
schedule choices and variety to all our viewers. With DTV picture
quality, sound and reception are usually superior; signals are
less prone to interference and reception problems: and the picture
is free of snow and “ghost” images. DTV will enable
stations to transmit additional data services, including significantly
improved closed captioning. Bandwidth will also be freed up for
the use by public agencies and emergency first responders. |
| What channels are affected? |
This analog transmitter shut off affects all television broadcasters, commercial and public. TV stations have made significant investments in new technology to continue operations in digital. Three different WSKG digital channels will bring an expanded family of public television programs to all our viewers. You’ll
not only have many more program choices and schedule options,
but your picture and sound quality may also be improved. |
| Whose idea was this? |
| The decision to convert from analog to digital was made by the Federal Communications Commission and not by broadcasters. Very few broadcasters, commercial and non-commercial, were interested in spending the millions of dollars necessary to convert our broadcast facility to digital, but we had to do so in order to maintain our licenses. |
| Why is digital conversion happening? |
| Converting to digital broadcasting will consolidate broadcast television’s use of the electromagnetic spectrum and free up more frequencies for public safety communications, and other wireless services like hospital patient monitoring, cell phones, garage door openers, keyless entry items, and the like. |
| Is the analog shut-off date firm? |
As of this moment, yes, however Congress has the authority to make any changes they wish, so there is no surety until it actually happens. Your current TV will display analog signals until February 17, 2009 and more information should become widely available as February 1, 2009 approaches. In the meantime, your WSKG reception will continue without change until February 17, 2009. Throughout the digital transition, WSKG will work closely with cable and satellite providers, national membership organization and government agencies to ensure you have the most up to date information. |
For more information on the digital television transition check out the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) DTV web site at www.dtv.gov , the National Broadcasters Association (NAB) DTV web sitewww.dtvanswers.com, and the FCC's Consumers Corner.
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This page last updated
Monday February 4, 2008 9:52 AM