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What is the DTV transition? What does it stand for? How will the way TV is broadcast be affected? Who will it affect and to what degree? Will the switch to digital require other hardware to work?

DTV stands for digital television, which is the new standard that all full-power major stations will be using soon. After June 12, 2009, all of these stations will no longer broadcast their channels in analog. The switch to digital has some benefits, even though some see the whole transition process as bothersome. A digital transmission means that the pictures coming out on your end will be much sharper and clearer, but picture clarity and quality are not the only things that will be improved. The DTV transition also frees up some much-needed frequency space so that emergency services, fire personnel, and the police department can have that space to themselves. The other available frequencies will be leased out to companies that can offer broadband services to clients.

The DTV Delay Act was proposed by President Barack Obama and passed by Congress in January shortly before the original transition date. TV, radio, newspapers, and other forms of media warned ahead of time the impending digital television transition that was originally set to take place and despite months and months of planning and getting the word out, there were a few million people who would have been left in the dark on the morning of the 17th. Some people were not ready to make the change for various reasons, whether it be inattentiveness, financial reasons, or some other reason.

All full-power major television stations are or will be broadcasting only in digital, so those who have analog TVs or TVs that were purchased before March 1, 2007 will be affected and will need to be connected to a digital converter box to continue to receive over-the-air reception from the broadcast towers. This box will be connected to your TV and your antenna to ensure that you receive over-the-air, or OTA, signals from the broadcast towers in your area. This DTV transition will not affect your VCR, DVD or Blu-Ray players, or video game consoles.

For those who need financial assistance or don’t want to hand out their own money for a digital converter box, there is a program that distributes up to two 40-dollar vouchers per household. The coupon can be redeemed at a list of participating retailers they will provide to you. There is a waiting list for the vouchers at this time, however, and they are being mailed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Aydan Corkern is a writer, HD enthusisast, and promoter of home theater installation and indoor antenna.