Will all TV programming switch to HD format come 2009? What does this do to my present TV and peripherals?

Answer 1

At midnight on Februaury 17, 2009, with minor exceptions, all analog over the air broadcasting will end in the US, being replaced by digital TV. All HDTV is digital, not all digital is HDTV.
They aren't getting rid of free TV. They are ending analog TV in February of 2009, but in January 2008, we can apply to the government for two coupons worth $40 each off of the price (about $60) of two converters which will allow you to continue to watch Over The Air (OTA) TV on the old analog sets, VCRs, ETC. Every device that you presently hook-up to an antenna will need a converter box. Since the tuning is in the converter box, you won't be able to do time-shift recording, except at one preset channel each evening. You don't have to buy a new TV. You also don't have to buy a "digital" antenna-there is no such thing-they're all antennas. Because the digital TV which is replacing the old analog OTA is mostly on UHF channels rather than VHF, you may find that your existing antenna isn't good enough and you may have to replace it. For those with satellite or cable, they are not effected.

see the link below for more information
http://www.dtv.gov/

The reson for the change is that digital broadcasting allows for more programs to be sqeezed into the same space than you can with analog, not to mention allowing for HDTV to be broadcast-and it is being broadcast right now.

Answer 2

(This answer assumes you are located in the US)

>Will all TV programming switch to HD format come 2009?

No. But almost all all over the air broadcasts will be digital (DTV) after 2/17/09. Not all of these broadcasts will be in HD format. You can watch HD format broadcasts on a non-HD TV, but the resolution on the picture will be limited to about the quality you get on that TV when playing a DVD.

If your TVs & peripherals are old enough that they don't have digtial tuners built in, you might need to make some changes.

If you get TV signals over the air you will need to buy a converter box. Starting in Jan 2008 the government will have a coupon program so you can buy a couple of them for about $20 each. These converters can also be used with VCRs & DVD recorders but you would have to set the channel manually; in other words you can't program multiple shows on different channels. If you get good TV reception now, you should be able to use the same TV antenna.

If you have cable TV, cable companies are required to keep providing analog signals until at least 2012. Some will require that analog customers change from a direct connection to using a cable box.

Satellite TV siganls are already digital; there is a converter built into the receiver.

Answer 3

Well... from what I understand - all the major broadcasters in the U.S. will switch their formats to a digital-signal... which means you need some type of digital receiver (a converter box, a DVD or VCR with a digital receiver, a digital cable box, satellite dish, or a television with a digital receiver, etc.).

You'll still be receiving the broadcast signals from the UHF bands... and if you're close enough to the border - you'll keep on receiving signals from other countries which overlap into your receiver's range.