Digital Television FAQs

What is DTV?

DTV is short for a digital television signal that's transmitted by encoding images as zeroes and ones. (Calculators, computers, compact discs and the Internet are examples of digital technology.)

DTV has a distinct advantage over today's analog signal. It can compress images, enabling a station to broadcast four, five or more channels on the same bandwidth required for our current standard television signal.

Why do we have to convert to DTV?

Analog broadcasting is a messy, inefficient use of a limited broadcast spectrum. Like the dial on your car radio, it can only accommodate a certain number of stations/signals, so space on the spectrum is prime real estate.

Digital technology condenses broadcast signals to make room on the spectrum for cellular phones, paging, and other systems. By auctioning that space, the government hopes to add billions to the U.S. Treasury and reduce the national debt.

How will we pay for DTV?

Commercial broadcasters are looking to advertisers to pay the freight.

NHPTV estimates that it will cost approximately $10 million to convert its studio broadcast equipment and its five transmitters from analog to digital technology.

Like our sister stations in the PBS community, we know that raising funds at this level within the community is an insurmountable challenge, and so we're looking to both federal and state governments for help.

WENH-DT 57 in Deerfield, NH, began digital transmission in September 2000. WLED-DT 48 in Littleton, NH, began transmission in April 2002. WEKW-DT 49 in Keene, NH began transmission in June 2003. The FCC has not given channel assignments to the two remaining translators in Pittsburgh and Hanover, so their sign-on dates are yet to be determined.

How much will digital sets cost?

Prices for digital TV sets start at $1,500; most cost much more. But television is the nation's largest mass-market product--more homes have TV sets than telephones--so prices are expected to drop rapidly.

Must I buy a new TV set?

Not for a long time. You can purchase a converter box for about $400. They resemble boxes provided by cable companies, and they'll "translate" the digital signal so you can view it on your analog set. Reception will be better than what you presently receive, but not as crisp as you'd get with a digital unit.

The FCC has set February 9, 2009 as the date when traditional analog television broadcasts will end. At that time you will need to replace your TV set, get converter boxes, or continue watching the signal through your cable company who will probably convert it to a format that you can still watch on your analog television.

Will I still be able to get cable service?

Yes, without any noticeable difference.

Will I still be able to watch my favorite old programs?

Yes, networks will be reformatting programs in their current library to meet the digital standard. Some programs, like movies and filmed dramas shot in high-quality film, already work digitally.

I have a huge video collection. Will I still be able to watch these videos?

Yes, if you maintain your current equipment. It's like having 45-rpm records or 8-track recordings. At some point you may want to convert your videos to digital recordings. In a few years, that equipment will be available to consumers.