When will the Digital Transition (DTV) happen?

Because we are in the Wilmington, NC Television market, the Digital Transition will take place at midnight on September 8, 2008.

What is the Digital Transition (DTV)?

At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the U.S. will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting will provide a better picture and additional programming options and will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders. This transition will take place early on September 8, 2008 in our area.

Why is the Digital Transition (DTV) happening?

Broadcasters are transitioning to digital to provide important benefits to consumers. Because digital broadcasting is more efficient, broadcasters require less of the airwaves to provide a better television viewing experience. Once the DTV transition is completed, some television channels will be made available to fire and police departments for emergency communication and others will be auctioned to companies for wireless services.

Are DTV and HD the same thing?

No. HDTV, or high-definition television, is the highest quality digital television (DTV) available, offering more than five times the sharpness of today's analog television, along with digital surround sound capability. DTV is also available as EDTV (enhanced definition TV) or SDTV (standard definition TV), each with improved pictures and sound over today's analog televisions.

Will my television work after the Digital Transition (DTV)?

If your TV is connected to a pay service such as ATMC cable or satellite, or equipped with a digital tuner, it will continue to work. Analog television sets receiving free TV using rabbit ears or an antenna will not work after September 8, 2008. TV sets that are not connected to a pay TV service will need to take action before September 8, 2008.

How do I know if my TV has a digital tuner?

Consult your TV owner's manual, look up your TV on the manufacturer's website or take the quiz at http://www.dtvtransition.org. Many TVs sold in the past few years have a digital tuner.

How can I prepare for the DTV transition?

Preparing for the DTV transition is easy and requires one of these three steps by September 8, 2008:

• Purchase a new television set with a built in digital tuner.
• Purchase a digital-to-analog converter box that plugs into an existing television.
• Subscribe to cable.

Any of these steps will ensure that "over-the-air" television consumers will continue to receive programming.

If I'm a Basic or Expanded Basic (analog) Cable customer, will I have to sign up for Digital Cable/HD programming?

No. Any Basic Cable setup will work. But now is a good time to upgrade to Digital Cable. Digital Cable gives you more channels, access to HD channels, an interactive program guide, and coming soon, Video On Demand.

As an ATMC Cable customer, will my channel lineups change?

We do not expect the channel lineup to change as a result of the DTV transition.

Will my ATMC DVR be affected?

No. Your DVR will continue to work without interruption.

What is a TV digital-to-analog converter box?

A TV digital-to-analog converter box is a new box that was made available in early 2008 for non-cable customers. This box plugs into your analog TV and, along with your antenna, will keep your analog TV working after February 17, 2009. Digital-to analog converter boxes can be purchased for between $50 and $70 with no ongoing charge. All TVs which are connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service do not require a TV digital-to-analog converter box.

How do I get my coupons?

Consumers can apply for coupons before March 31, 2009 by calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), by going online at www.dtv2009.gov or by mailing their application to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Coupons will be mailed to consumers.

Will the government help me buy a TV or add cable services?

No. The government only funds the cost of the digital-to-analog converter boxes.

When can I start using my TV digital-to-analog converter box?

Because most full-power stations are currently broadcasting both in digital and analog, you can plug in digital-to-analog converter boxes today and generally receive a clearer picture and "multicast" channels, where they are available.

Will I receive high-definition TV with a digital-to-analog converter box?

No. Analog TVs are not capable of displaying high-definition resolution. You will need one of the newer sets rated for "high-definition" resolution to view high-definition.