2008 Woodie Awards
Television's become a 'digital' standard for the country
Analog channels and signals are being replaced with the new age of high definition
Paul Burgos
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: The Scene
- Page 1 of 1
Since the 1940s, television has been evolving into a major part of Americans' daily lives.
Nowadays, television is approaching a new level, it's called high definition television. The resolution is twice as clear as normal NTSC (National Television Standard Committee) format. By Feb. 17, 2009, full-time stations will have to give up their analog signals and begin to fully transition to digital TV. This is because the federal government has ordered that all analog transmissions must stop and digital signals be turned on.
One of the reasons analog signals (channels 2-69) are being shut down is because the stations either have ghost images, snowy pictures, or bad reception. However, since the full transition does not start until March 1, households with analog TVs can still watch their programs as they do normally. However, beginning March 1, televisions 13 inches and larger will carry the built-in digital tuners which would mean that many people watching analog TV will have to get some new equipment.
On Feb. 9, 2006, President Bush signed a bill titled The Digital Television and Public Safety Act of 2005, which stated that all analog full-powered TV stations will have to stop their analog transmissions and stations are to transmit only in digital TV format.
This signifies that if you have an over-the-air antenna, it is good now, but on Feb. 18, 2009, those signals will become a thing of the past.
Government officials, especially police and fire departments, will use digital from this point forward. Low Powered TV's (LP) and Class A (CA) stations will be able to broadcast until they are able to convert to HDTV.
At a Best Buy in San Jose, one of the employees said that by 2009, every TV station (which also includes Class-A stations and Low-Powered TV) would be on the digital spectrum. The representative also added that HDTV has a resolution of 1080 lines compared to the current 525 NTSC screen resolution and will provide better quality for home viewing.
In fact, many programs these days are running in high definition already. Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and The Today Show are just a few examples.
Right now the majority of people who are still watching analog TV will have bigger and better results with a digital television. The equipment that will come with HDTV will be a digital TV tuner, a digital converter box, or a TV with a built-in digital TV tuner. These products are available at your local electronic store.
Nevertheless, there is good news.Starting March 1, the federal government will be funding about $1.2 million for the conversion. Households will be receiving two $40 vouchers in the mail toward the purchase of a digital TV tuner. So when shopping for that new TV keep in mind, there are three types of televisions that most consumers buy.
First, the original analog televisions, provide mediocre picture quality at best. Next there are the plasma TVs which include manufacturers like Sony, Toshiba and Dell. They provide a high-resolution quality image and a screen resolution of 820 lines. Then, finally, the top of the line flat screen TVs which have just about the best quality picture ever. The models include JVC, Dell, Sony, Magnavox and RCA. Flat screen TVs provide a screen resolution of up to 1080 lines. Analog costs about $350 to $850 dollars while plasma TVs cost about $1200 to $2000 and the top of the line flat screen TVs cost anywhere from $3000 to $5000.
So if you're in the market to buy a new TV, now is the time to buy a digital TV because they will become the standard.
Nowadays, television is approaching a new level, it's called high definition television. The resolution is twice as clear as normal NTSC (National Television Standard Committee) format. By Feb. 17, 2009, full-time stations will have to give up their analog signals and begin to fully transition to digital TV. This is because the federal government has ordered that all analog transmissions must stop and digital signals be turned on.
One of the reasons analog signals (channels 2-69) are being shut down is because the stations either have ghost images, snowy pictures, or bad reception. However, since the full transition does not start until March 1, households with analog TVs can still watch their programs as they do normally. However, beginning March 1, televisions 13 inches and larger will carry the built-in digital tuners which would mean that many people watching analog TV will have to get some new equipment.
On Feb. 9, 2006, President Bush signed a bill titled The Digital Television and Public Safety Act of 2005, which stated that all analog full-powered TV stations will have to stop their analog transmissions and stations are to transmit only in digital TV format.
This signifies that if you have an over-the-air antenna, it is good now, but on Feb. 18, 2009, those signals will become a thing of the past.
Government officials, especially police and fire departments, will use digital from this point forward. Low Powered TV's (LP) and Class A (CA) stations will be able to broadcast until they are able to convert to HDTV.
At a Best Buy in San Jose, one of the employees said that by 2009, every TV station (which also includes Class-A stations and Low-Powered TV) would be on the digital spectrum. The representative also added that HDTV has a resolution of 1080 lines compared to the current 525 NTSC screen resolution and will provide better quality for home viewing.
In fact, many programs these days are running in high definition already. Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and The Today Show are just a few examples.
Right now the majority of people who are still watching analog TV will have bigger and better results with a digital television. The equipment that will come with HDTV will be a digital TV tuner, a digital converter box, or a TV with a built-in digital TV tuner. These products are available at your local electronic store.
Nevertheless, there is good news.Starting March 1, the federal government will be funding about $1.2 million for the conversion. Households will be receiving two $40 vouchers in the mail toward the purchase of a digital TV tuner. So when shopping for that new TV keep in mind, there are three types of televisions that most consumers buy.
First, the original analog televisions, provide mediocre picture quality at best. Next there are the plasma TVs which include manufacturers like Sony, Toshiba and Dell. They provide a high-resolution quality image and a screen resolution of 820 lines. Then, finally, the top of the line flat screen TVs which have just about the best quality picture ever. The models include JVC, Dell, Sony, Magnavox and RCA. Flat screen TVs provide a screen resolution of up to 1080 lines. Analog costs about $350 to $850 dollars while plasma TVs cost about $1200 to $2000 and the top of the line flat screen TVs cost anywhere from $3000 to $5000.
So if you're in the market to buy a new TV, now is the time to buy a digital TV because they will become the standard.
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