Digital TV Transition -> Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

• I've heard several dates that the DTV Transition will happen. When can I expect stations in my area to switch from an analog to a digital signal?
  • Originally, all broadcast stations were required to deliver their signals in a digital format by February 17, 2009. In February 2009, a bill was approved extending the deadline. Based on that change, all broadcasters must provide a digital signal no later than June 12, 2009. Click here to get the latest information on stations in your area.
• What is the Digital TV Transition?
  • At midnight June 12, 2009, all full-power television stations in the U.S. discontinued broadcasting in analog and switched to 100% digital broadcast, per FCC mandate.  If your TV is connected to WOW! Cable, you are still able to receive these stations. Additionally, televisions with digital tuners that are not connected to cable are still able to receive these stations, as their digital tuners will allow them to receive the new digital signals.
    
    If you are a WOW! Cable customer and have analog televisions that are not hooked up to a cable outlet, you are likely no longer receiving broadcast signals on those televisions and will need to connect them to a WOW! Cable outlet.
    
    Non-cable/satellite consumers with analog televisions who wish to receive the full-power broadcast channels after June 12 have the following options available:
    • Subscribe to cable or satellite service.
    • Purchase a digital to analog converter box for each television. Digital to analog converter boxes will be available at most electronic retailers in early 2008.
    • Replace their analog TV with a digital TV (TV with a built-in digital tuner)
• If I am a WOW! customer with an analog TV, do I have to do anything?
  • At this time, WOW! does not have plans to remove analog broadcast signals from our channel line-up. As long as you have a cable connection (to the wall), or a set top box, either analog or digital, you will still receive the same programming you enjoy today.
• How do I know if I own a digital television?
  • To determine if your TV is an analog or digital set, refer to your owner’s manual or check with your TV manufacturer.   Many digital TVs, or DTVs, and DTV equipment have labels or markings on them, or statements in the informational materials that came with them, to indicate that they contain digital tuners.  These indicators may contain the words "Integrated Digital Tuner" or "Digital Tuner Built-In". "Receiver" may be substituted for "Tuner", and "DTV", "ATSC" or "HDTV" may be substituted for "digital".
    
    If your television equipment contains any of these labels or markings, you should be able to view digital over-the-air programming without the need for cable connection, converter box or receiver.
    • Remember that all HDTVs are digital, but not all digital TVs are high-definition. You do not need an HDTV to view free over-the-air digital programming.
    • If your television set is labeled as a "Digital Monitor" or "HDTV Monitor", or as "Digital Ready" or "HDTV Ready", this does not mean it actually contains a digital tuner.
    • If your television set is labeled as "analog" or "NTSC" but is not labeled as containing a digital tuner, it contains an analog tuner only.
• If I am receiving my channels through rabbit ears (or rooftop antenna), do I need to do anything?
  • Yes, to receive programming after June 12, 2009, you will need to do one of the following:
    1. Replace your existing TV with a digital TV (a TV with a built-in digital tuner) so you can receive the digitally broadcast channels.
    2. Purchase and hook up a digital to analog converter box.
    3. Sign up for cable or satellite service and connect your TV’s to that service. (WOW! customers will still be able to view broadcast channels if their television set is hooked to a cable connection.)
• What is a digital to analog converter box and where can I learn more about them?
  • The digital to analog converter box receives digital over the air signals from your antenna (or "rabbit ears"), converts them to analog and sends signals to your existing analog TV. To facilitate the Digital Transition, the government is making coupons available with which qualifying consumers may purchase digital to analog converter boxes at retail stores. For more information on applying for a coupon, or where to buy a digital to analog converter box, go to http://www.dtv.gov/.
• Can I buy a digital to analog converter box from WOW!?
  • WOW! does not sell these digital to analog converter boxes. The boxes that will be available in retail stores will only convert signals for your local broadcast stations. You will not be able to view cable networks with these retail boxes.
    
    If you are interested in subscribing to a package of channels that includes both your local broadcast and cable channels, you may sign up for WOW! Cable service. WOW! will then provide and lease the appropriate equipment that allows you to view the services that you want, without having to buy the digital to analog converter box at retail.
• I’ve heard I could get money to buy a digital to analog converter box. Where can I find more information on this program?
  • The government has introduced a program that offers coupons (valued at $40) that goes toward the purchase of a digital to analog converter box. For more information, go to http://www.dtv.gov; www.dtvtransition.org; or call
    1-888-DTV-2009 / 1-888-388-2009.
• Can I use these coupons toward my cable service or to lease a digital box from WOW?
  • No, these coupons can only be applied toward the purchase of an analog-to-digital converter box.
• I’ve heard that these coupons expire after a certain amount of time?
  • Yes, these coupons will expire three months after they are issued. The issuance date is the date that the coupon is placed in the U.S. mail. Customers will not be able to redeem a coupon to purchase a converter box after the expiration date; nor will retailers be able to honor a coupon past its expiration date. For more information on this topic, visit http://www.dtv.gov
• I don’t subscribe to WOW! today. Could I subscribe to WOW! Cable and not have to purchase a new TV or lease a box?
  • Yes! If you have a cable connection (to the wall) from WOW!, you would not need to lease a box or purchase a new TV.
• How do I get more information about the digital transition and the coupon program?
  • For more information, go to http://www.dtv.gov ; http://www.dtvtransition.org or call 1-888-DTV-2009/888-388-2009. A listing of the operational DTV stations is available at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/files/dtvonair.html
• Do I need a special antenna to receive digital television (DTV) over-the-air?
  • With a good indoor or outdoor antenna, you will maximize your DTV reception. In general, dependable reception of DTV will require the same type of antenna that currently works to provide good quality reception of analog TV signals. However, after June 12, 2009 some television stations have moved to a different channel in a different frequency band that may require a different antenna type from the one you may now have. For example, some channels in the “VHF band” (Channels 2-13) have moved to the “UHF band” (Channels 14-51) and vice versa. Receiving VHF and UHF signals require different antenna types, although some antennas are designed to receive both VHF and UHF signals. The good news is that there’s a Web site that can tell you what antenna you need in any part of the country – just by typing in your address and zip code. For help choosing an antenna in order to receive your free, local broadcast TV channels, visit www.antennaweb.org.
• How do I connect my analog to digital converter box?
  • For instructions on how to connect an analog to digital converter box purchased at a retail outlet, click here.