Digital Television

Digital television (DTV) is a signal sending and receiving moving images and sound by discrete digital, DTV was introduced in the late nineties, it appeals to the television business, and electronics industries as a way of having more profits. Digital television is more efficient than analog television. If properly used, digital television allows for a higher quality picture and sound than analog TV.

In February 2009, if you do not have digital cable service, or satellite service and use an antenna you will need to get a converter because broadcast will no longer be transmitted in analog. The 2009 deadline will not affect the vast majority of Americans who already have cable or satellite TV.

President Bush signed a bill and the Senate voted to pass into law, that as of Feb 17, 2009 broadcasters can no longer transmit in analog. The governments vote won immediate praise from the technology industry. The FCC has made it mandatory that DTV signals be available in every locality nationwide that has analog television.

The goals are to offer a better picture and high quality sound through the use of digital processing, and the introduction of multicasting (transmitting multiple streams of video on a single channel) and datacasting.

As of March 1, 2208 a manufacture is prohibited to import or manufacture a TV in the United States that does not have a digital tuner. Starting Jan. 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009, every home is eligible to get up to two coupons, each worth $40, toward the purchase of digital-to-analog converter box. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is responsible for the coupon program.