When is all TV supposed to go digital?

[TNDemo]

We need to buy a TV and was unsure of when it is all supposed to switch over.

[dave502d]

1. I think 2008.

[NYC Liberal]

2. End of 2006.

[Kellanved]

3. it already is

Over here anyway, :P .

[NYC Liberal]

4. There are already channels that do broadcast digitally

CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, and PBS do.

[Kellanved]

6. yes, I know

And unlike the current incarnation of DVB-T, it is HDTV stateside(DVB-T uses the normal PAL resolution).

Anyway, there is no analog over-the-air signal anymore here, with cable or satellite it is still optional.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. That's only Berlin, though, isn't it?

I thought the rest of Germany had the analogue signal still available.

How did people react? Have they sold their analogue TVs to the rest of Germany?

[Kellanved]

11. true - other regions have started switching over though

And no, most old TVs are still in use. As the digital signals isn't HDTV, there wasn't a real need for better TVs. DVB-T set-top boxes were a little hard to find for a while, but now all major brands have at least one in their catalog.

[rawtribe]

5. Your tax dollars at work

http://www.dtv.gov/

[NYC Liberal]

7. Wow....

[Deja Q]

9. The FCC (F=Fascist) wants the signals to go over in 2006.

Which is funny, as the copy protection broadcast flag hasn't been finalized yet (to the last of my knowledge, which is not up to date...)

[MrScorpio]

10. The Dutch went digital way back in 1997

It's just another example of why I need to move to the Netherlands some day.

That, and the Shoarmas

[Kellanved]

12. It won't be complete until 2006

The real switch-over is set to be completed in 2006 - along with several other European countries.
Terrestrial digital TV started last year.