The End of Analog Television in America - February 17th 2009

By: Joe Trzepla


If you are like most American households, your household watches over 8 hours of TV per day. If you live by yourself it is estimated that you watch over 4 1/2 hours of TV per day. Yes we Americans love our TV and studies show it will not slow down anytime soon. So what will happen to my old TV set and will it still work after 2-17-2009?

Do I have an analog TV set and what happens after 2-17-2009?

The day analog TV will end happens on 2-17-2009. This is the day the FCC has mandated that all broadcast TV stations stop sending out over the air analog signals. So what does this mean to me who has had the same old analog set for the last 10 years? Or a number 2 or 3 analog TV set in other parts of my home. You first might be asking yourself - what is an analog TV set? And, do I have one? If you still get TV programming from rabbit ears you have an analog set. If you use cable or satellite and have what is known as 4:3 TV (the square TV shape) you most likely have an analog TV set. One way to tell if your TV set is analog, is to look and see if the TV has a hook-up for an outside antenna?

OK – I have an analog TV set what do I do next?

First I suggest you have the “Sanford and Son” man pick it up or 2 you can keep the clunker running with a digital set-top converter box. The FCC is offering coupons to all Americans (limit 2 per household) to buy a new digital converter box. Below is the Announcement by the FCC how to claim your big $80 so you can keep your old analog TV’s working after 2/17/09.

Analog TVs Will Need Additional Equipment to Receive Over-the-air Television When the DTV Transition Ends

Consumers who rely on antennas (including outside antennas and "rabbit ears") to receive over-the-air broadcast signals on TV sets having only analog tuners will need to obtain separate digital-to-analog set-top converter boxes to watch over-the-air TV. These boxes receive digital signals and convert them into analog format for display on analog TVs. Analog sets connected to such converter boxes will display digital broadcasts, but not necessarily in the full, original digital quality.

Converter Box Coupon Program

Between Jan. 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009, all U.S. households will be eligible to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has responsibility for administering the coupon program. More information can be found at www.DTV2009.gov.

So what should I do? Buy a new HDTV or keep my old analog TV set?

This will all depend on your budget. If you can afford a new Digital TV then read next week’s article “What type of Digital TV to buy before 2-17-2009”. I strongly suggest you budget for a new HDTV set before 2-17-2009 if you don’t have one, it will be the best entertainment investment you will ever make.

About Dean Scheu

Dean Scheu started in the TV business working for the NFL NY Football Giants in Media Relations while attending College over 20 years ago. Scheu has held TV management positions with some of the largest Media companies in the world including; Tribune Broadcasting, Comcast, MTM Entertainment, Petry Television, Charter and others. He is a common guest speaker at industry events like Digital Hollywood. Dean Scheu is considered to be one of the world’s leading experts in interactive advertising. Scheu is also a member of the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences, and has raised funds for various local charities including St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank CA.

Joe Trzepla authors and co-authors various articles that are truck insurance related and related to other industries. Trzepla is also an award winning website designer.