What you need to know about the Wilmington test

The Federal Communications Commission announced that the Wilmington NC market will be its “test market” and will make an early switch from analog to fully digital TV broadcasting on September 8, 2008. (The rest of the country will turn off analog TV transmitters about six months later, on 2.17.09) Households that depend on over-the-air signals and who have older TV sets with analog only tuners will need to take action to continue to watch TV.

On February 17, 2009, US television stations will stop broadcasting analog signals and will begin broadcasting entirely in digital TV signals. The switch means that some viewers will have to take action if they want to continue to receive programming.

If you use an antenna to receive free over-the-air TV programming, you might be affected by the digital transition.

To know for sure, you need to determine whether your TV has something called a “digital tuner” already built in. If it does, your set will continue to function normally after the digital transition. If it doesn’t, you will need to take action to continue watching programs on that TV.

Here are some guidelines for figuring out if your TV has a digital tuner:

• If you bought your TV set before 1998, you can assume it doesn’t have a digital tuner.
• If you bought your TV set between 1998 and 2004, there’s a slight chance that it has a digital tuner, but this mostly applies to projection TVs with screens measuring 42” or larger.
• If you bought your TV set since 2004, it probably does have a built-in digital tuner. However, some smaller sets (those with screens measuring less than 27”) may not feature digital tuners, even if they were purchased more recently than 2004.

Still not sure? The best way to find out if your TV set has a digital tuner is to consult your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s Web site. If that doesn’t work, you can take an up-close look at the back of your TV set—if you see an input connection labeled “digital input” or “ATSC”, you can be sure your TV has a digital tuner.

Buy a TV converter box

Not ready to get rid of your analog TV set? Don’t worry—you don’t have to. All you’ll need in order to keep watching your favorite TV shows is a device called a “TV converter box.”

This small device connects to the back of your TV and converts digital signals to analog ones. Through the government’s TV Converter Box Coupon Program, every US household is eligible to receive two $40 coupons to be used towards the purchase of these devices.

Pick up a TV converter box at any Circuit City store or order by phone at 1-888-280-9382.

Subscribe to cable or satellite service

If you want to keep using your analog TV, but don't want to use a converter box, you can do so by subscribing to a cable or satellite service. Analog TVs that are connected to these pay TV services will continue to function normally after the digital transition. Go here to see what services are available in your area.

Upgrade to a digital TV

Ready for a new TV set? Upgrade to a digital TV and receive programming without using a converter box or subscribing to cable or satellite service. 

Shop now for a new digital TV.

Get answers to frequently asked questions.

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