Digital television (DTV) is a broadcasting technology that offers improved picture and sound quality, as well as multiple programming options through multicasting. The U.S. mandated a transition from analog to digital broadcasts, concluding on June 12, 2009, freeing up spectrum for public safety and advanced wireless services. DTV requires digital tuners in new TVs and is already available for viewers with DTV receivers.

1. Digital Television (DTV)
What is DTV?
What You Need to Know
By
Worldwidesatellites

2. What is DTV?
Digital Television (DTV) is an advanced
broadcasting technology that will transform your
television viewing experience. DTV enables
broadcasters to offer television with better picture
and sound quality. It can also offer multiple
programming choices, called multicasting, and
interactive capabilities.
source: dtv.gov

3. The Transition to Digital TV
The switch from analog to digital broadcast television is
referred to as the digital TV (DTV) transition. In 1996, the
U.S. Congress authorized the distribution of an additional
broadcast channel to each broadcast TV station so that
they could start a digital broadcast channel while
simultaneously continuing their analog broadcast
channel. Later, Congress set June 12, 2009 as the final
date that full power television stations can broadcast
analog signals. As of June 13, 2009, full power television
stations will only broadcast digital, over-the-air signals.
Your local broadcasters may make the transition before
then, and some already have.

4. The digital transition is underway. Prepare now! On Feb.
17, some full-power broadcast television stations in the
United States may stop broadcasting on analog airwaves
and begin broadcasting only in digital. The remaining
stations may stop broadcasting analog sometime between
April 16 and June 12. June 12 is the final deadline for
terminating analog broadcasts under legislation passed by
Congress.

5. Why are we switching to DTV?
• An important benefit of the switch to all-digital
broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable
broadcast spectrum for public safety communications
(such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads).
Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to
companies that will be able to provide consumers with
more advanced wireless services (such as wireless
broadband).
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6. Consumers also benefit because digital broadcasting allows
stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, and
digital is much more efficient than analog. For example,
rather than being limited to providing one analog program, a
broadcaster is able to offer a super sharp “high definition”
(HD) digital program or multiple “standard definition” (SD)
digital programs simultaneously through a process called
“multicasting.” Multicasting allows broadcast stations to offer
several channels of digital programming at the same time,
using the same amount of spectrum required for one analog
program.
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7. So, for example, while a station broadcasting in analog on
channel 7 is only able to offer viewers one program, a
station broadcasting in digital on channel 7 can offer
viewers one digital program on channel 7-1, a second
digital program on channel 7-2, a third digital program on
channel 7-3, and so on. This means more programming
choices for viewers. Further, DTV can provide interactive
video and data services that are not possible with analog
technology.

8. What You Need to Know
 What is the date set by Congress for the end of full-
power analog television broadcasting?
 Do I have to wait until after June 12, 2009 to watch
DTV?
 Digital Television Tuners
 Digital Television Quality Levels

9. What is the date set by Congress for
the end of full-power analog
television broadcasting?
Congress has set June 12, 2009 as the final deadline for
terminating analog broadcasts. Under the law, on Feb.
17, some full-power broadcast television stations in the
United States may stop broadcasting on analog airwaves
and begin broadcasting only in digital. The remaining
stations may stop broadcasting analog sometime
between April 16 and June 12.

10. Do I have to wait until
after June 12, 2009 to
watch DTV?
No, digital television is available now. If you watch over-
the-air television today, you should be able to receive all
or most of your local stations’ digital signals if you have
a DTV receiver. You may view high definition and
multicast programming from your local stations. Check
your local program listings or contact your local TV
stations to find out more about the digital television
available now. The FCC’s special website, www.dtv.gov,
has more information on digital television, or call
1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322).

11. Digital Television Tuners
The Commission's digital tuner rule specifies that as of
March 1, 2007, all new TVs must include digital tuners. This
rule prohibits the manufacture, import, or interstate shipment
of any device containing an analog tuner, unless it also
contains a digital tuner. Despite this prohibition on
manufacture and shipment, retailers may continue to sell
analog-only devices from existing inventory. As a result, at
the point of sale, many consumers may not be aware that
this equipment will not be able to receive over-the-air-
television signals after June 12, 2009.
source: dtv.gov

12. Digital Television Quality
Levels
There are many quality levels of digital
television programming. The most common are:
•Standard Definition TV (SDTV )
•Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV)
•High Definition TV (HDTV)
source: dtv.gov

13. Standard Definition TV (SDTV)
SDTV is the basic level of
quality display and
resolution for both analog
and digital. Transmission
of SDTV may be in either
the traditional (4:3) or
widescreen (16:9) format.
source: dtv.gov

14. Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV)
EDTV is a step up from
Analog Television. EDTV
comes in 480p widescreen
(16:9) or traditional (4:3)
format and provides better
picture quality than SDTV, but
not as high as HDTV.
source: dtv.gov

15. High Definition TV (HDTV)
HDTV in widescreen format
(16:9) provides the highest
resolution and picture quality
of all digital broadcast formats.
Combined with digitally
enhanced sound technology,
HDTV sets new standards for
sound and picture quality in
television. (Note: HDTV and
digital TV are not the same
thing - HDTV is one format of
digital TV.)
source: dtv.gov

16. THE END
Coming Again with Other
By
worldwidesatellite
source: dtv.gov