Reported by: John Matarese
I've been talking about the change to HDTV, and what it is. But viewers are asking me if their old television still will soon be obsolete.
The answer in today's "HD 101."
The standard Analog signal from Channel 9 and all other stations, will be turned off in February 2009...not by the station's choice, but by a federal law.
However, if you want to continue watching your current television after then, you can. Starting next year, after the Holiday Season, electronics stores will sell converter boxes. Converter boxes will sell for approximately $40.
The government will offer families who don't have cable or satellite vouchers for a free converter box. However, if you have cable, you're not eligible. Details beyond that, however, remain fuzzy, and we won't know exactly how to apply for a box until after January 1st, 2008.
The good news: The boxes will convert the Digital signal to Analog, so your old glass box TV will still work.
One downside: The box will NOT turn your old TV into a High Def TV....the picture will not be in HD. Old Analog TVs are not capable to showing an HD picture.
