Monday, December 15, 2008

Get ready for digital TV!

Yes, in a mere 64 days, all U.S. television broadcasters will be going digital. It's sounds scary, but trust us, it's not.

Here's the lowdown: digital television (or "DTV," as us industry folks call it) will free up space on the valuable broadcast spectrum, which will be used for public and safety services (such as police and fire departments) as well as advanced wireless services. It will also offer viewers television with better picture and sound quality.

If you receive your television signal over the air, i.e. with "rabbit ears," and you haven't prepared for "the big switch"--or maybe you've already purchased your digital convertor box but are having problems using it--fear not!

The lovely folks at WGBH in Boston have prepared a great how-to DTV guide, featuring famous do-it-yourselfers Norm Abram and Kevin O'Connor of This Old House. The duo visits several homes in a Boston suburb to prepare the homeowners for digital TV.

As always, if you have questions about DTV, visit www.mpt.org/dtv or call or e-mail MPT’s Viewer Services with questions or concerns Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or by email at dtv@mpt.org.

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