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[Richard]

Starting in 2007 and ending in 2012, TV services in the UK will go completely digital, TV region by TV region. This process is called digital switch-over.The UK’s old television broadcast signal (known as “analogue”) is being switched off and replaced with a “digital” signal. Any TV set or video recorder that’s not converted to digital when the switchover takes place will no longer receive TV programmes.

In very north of England its happening in few hours time but happening till all of the UK is converted up to 2012.

Analogue signal will still be used by mobile phones for TV, more wireless hotspots,  or HD TV or highest bidder it seems

I am wondering is America or Europe "Gone Digital" or are you still analogue.

[Pieter]

You're talking about the channels you can receive by connecting an antenna to your television, right? The Netherlands has already switched over to a digital system, and it's happening later this year (or maybe in 2008, I'm not sure) over here in Belgium. We've got a cable subscription, so we won't have to buy additional equipment I guess.

There's no such thing as Freeview in Belgium. Either you watch television using an old school antenna or you get a cable subscription. If you go with the antenna, you can only receive two channels. Both of them are run by our public broadcaster.

[El Guru (Al)]

Here in the US it is February 17, 2009

[Pieter]

Are they going to switch over the entire US in just a couple of hours?

[Richard]

Are they going to switch over the entire US in just a couple of hours?

I doubt it reason why it going to take years in the UK even if 80% of TV's have a digital freeview or sky too many people complain saying why we needed to change so bringing it in slowly

[Pieter]

Yeah, but still... it seems impossible to do the digital switchover in such a short amount of time.

[OldManDeath]

February 19, 2009 is the date that ALL broadcast signals have to be digital as they will no longer be able to transmit in analog.  Broadcasters have been switching for a while now.  I think it will take a much longer time for everything to be done in HDTV.

[Ryan Wagner]

I was actually pretty shocked by this news when I read it the other day. What's going to happen to handheld TV's?

[OldManDeath]

I was actually pretty shocked by this news when I read it the other day. What's going to happen to handheld TV's?

They will have to be replaced.  I have not seen any hand held HDTV's yet.  We may not though if you think about it.  Shows are downloadable so they can be carried around.  Digital format of all video is the future.

[Pieter]

handheld TV's?

Are these like portable TV's that allow you to receive TV signals using an antenna? That sounds cool, but since we can only receive two channels over the air over here it's worthless to me.

[spock1982 (Ernie)]

I anticipate an extension to the drop dead date here in the States. There are a lot of people up in arms about the switch over and I bet that will get worse as the date approaches.

[Ashley Wagner]

I anticipate an extension to the drop dead date here in the States. There are a lot of people up in arms about the switch over and I bet that will get worse as the date approaches.

I've got an article posting in a few hours which talks about this. I'm thinking that the date this time will stick- only because the original date that the FCC had set was December 31st, 2006! This time around, the government will be giving coupons to those who still have analog TVs so that they can buy a converter box. I think everybody will be taken care of, and there will be no need to extend the date again.

[rogoisu]

I hope there isn't another drop dead date extension... I remember in sixth grade reading my first article on this, something like 13 years ago.  There are different compatibility options where you don't have to buy a completely new system.  The US is far enough behind in telecommunication as it is, consumers need to get their crap together and adapt if they aren't going to upgrade.  Screw them, they've had several extensions already  

[Ryan Wagner]

handheld TV's?

Are these like portable TV's that allow you to receive TV signals using an antenna? That sounds cool, but since we can only receive two channels over the air over here it's worthless to me.

Yep, that's exactly what they are. They are pretty nice because several of the major television networks broadcast over the air, which is great for picking up sporting events. I would say that there are only 10 or so stations that you can get in on them though, and many will look fuzzy.