TCOG holds DTV conversion seminar in Sherman
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Posted: 5:57 PM Apr 29, 2008
TCOG holds DTV conversion seminar in Sherman
SHERMAN, TX -- Volunteers at the Texoma Council of Goverments don't want your TV to go blank next February during the DTV switch. They held a DTV conversion seminar Tuesday in Sherman.
Reporter: KXII Staff
Email Address: firstnews@kxii.com
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SHERMAN, Tex. -- Volunteers at the Texoma Council of Goverments don't want your TV to go blank next February during the DTV switch. They held a DTV conversion seminar Tuesday in Sherman.

Starting next February, all U.S. television stations will stop broadcasting analog signals, and all TVs not using cable or satellite will need to have a digital converter box. So Tuesday, area neighbors could go by TCOG to get coupons for that converter box and ask questions about the switch.

Coupons take 1 to 3 months to receive. Volunteers at TCOG want everyone to be prepared in advance.

"We just decided to take the initiative. TCOG has always tried to get information to the people through all of our programs here," program director Julia Traweek says.

If you missed the seminar, coupons are still available at TCOG. Call 903-813-3588 for more info.

Much, much more information is available on our DTV page at http://www.kxii.com/hdtv.
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The Digital TV Transition
February 17th, 2009, the era of analog broadcast television ended in the United States. While the change marked the end of the traditional analog method of broadcasting over-the-air television, it hasn’t signaled the end of free broadcast television. Your favorite broadcast programs and local television stations will still be available.

Consumers that subscribe to a "pay" television service such as cable and satellite have not been affected by the switch, but if you received analog television over the air or via an antenna, you’ll need to take action to continue watching your favorite stations, if you have yet to do so already.
What You Need to Know
TV sets that currently receive programming through cable or satellite are not likely to be affected by the transition to digital.

However, TV sets that rely on "over the air" broadcasting with an antenna (set-top or rooftop) to receive a signal will be affected by the cutoff of analog broadcasts in 2009. You will need to consider one of the following options:
  • Purchase a digital-to-analog converter box that plugs into an existing television. The boxes, which are expected to cost between $50 - 70 will be available for purchase in 2008. Beginning on January 1, 2008, U.S. households can request up to two coupons valued at $40 each. Each coupon can go toward the purchase of a single set-top converter box that will allow you to continue watching FREE "over-the-air" television on an analog set.
  • Subscribe to a cable, satellite or telecommunications service provider if all desired local broadcast stations are carried by that service.
  • Purchase a new television set with a built in digital tuner.
Any of these steps will ensure that "over-the-air" television consumers will continue to receive programming.