How Does the DTV Switch Affect You?
All this talk about switching to DTV broadcasts is well and good, but how does it affect you, personally?
The answer is: It all depends—on what type of television set you have, and on how you currently receive your television broadcasts.
For example, if you have a newer TV with a built-in digital or HDTV tuner, you don't have to do anything, because your TV is fully equipped for the new digital broadcasts. And if you subscribe to cable or satellite TV, you also don't have to do anything; cable and satellite already convert their own digital signals, so any TV can receive them.
However, if you have an older TV hooked up to an indoor or outdoor antenna, your television viewing is at risk. If you do nothing, your TV will quit receiving signals on February 17, 2009—which means you have some preparation to make.