HDTV is Coming - For Better or Maybe Worse

America's TV stations currently broadcast their programs using analog signals. However, this will come to an end in on February 19, 2009 by which time all stations must have converted to digital signals.

The problem for many Americans is that their TVs cannot receive digital signals. In fact, it is estimated that there are more than 70 million TV sets that will become instantly obsolete when analog broadcasting ends.

How will this affect you?

If you subscribe to cable or satellite television, this change will probably have no effect on your televiewing. This is because satellite and cable broadcasters have more than four years to get ready for the changeover.

On the other hand, if you are one of about 20 million Americans who do not subscribe to either cable or satellite TV, you will have to do one of two things. First, you can buy an HDTV capable TV. The least expensive of these receivers currently sell for about $1,000 but prices are expected to drop substantially between now and 2009. Second, you can get a set-top converter box that will enable your analog TV set to receive digital signals.

What will these set-top boxes cost and where can you get one?

As of this writing, no one knows exactly what these converter boxes will cost and when they will be available. The good news is that the Federal Government has set aside about $1.5 billion dollars for vouchers that those who own only the outmoded analog TVs can use to buy the set-top converters. The vouchers will be for $40 and each household that have only analog TV receivers will be eligible to receive two.

So, get ready. HDTV is coming - for better or maybe worse.

There's another HD technology you should know about. It's called HD Radio and it enables AM and FM radio stations to broadcast their programs digitally. These digital broadcasts provide listeners with radically improved audio quality, more radio channels through multicasting, and new data services. To learn more about this amazing new technology, just go my Web site, http://www.hd-radio-home.com, to get all the buzz.

Douglas Hanna is a retired marketing executive and the author of numerous articles on HD radio, the Internet and family finances.