Television stations across the U.S. will be changing the way they broadcast in about nine months, and representatives of Iowa Public TV are making the rounds to let folks know what’s coming. I-P-T-V spokeswoman Jennifer Konfrst, says anyone who watches T-V with a regular antenna will be impacted.
Konfrst says the transition or "analog shutoff" will take place at midnight on February 17th, 2009, and it’ll be done on every TV station and network nationwide. She says for Iowans who subscribe to cable or who have a satellite dish, there should have no problems with the switch.
Konfrst says the cable or a satellite dish companies are making the transition for you, but for people who currently receive the TV signal through the air, by antenna or rabbit ears you’ll have to take action. Konfrst says you have a couple of options. She says you’ll can get a digital TV or buy a converter box that will allow you to used your old TV.
The federal government is offering coupons for digital converter boxes on a special website. Konfrst says the new digital signal is a lot better, and the move will also free-up the old TV signal for other uses.