What is this digital?

Question

i was watching TV and it said something about everything having to be digital by 2009 what is this and what is it about?

Answer 1

this only applies to receiving antenna channels if you have cable or satellite there will be no change as satellite already broadcast in digital signal and most if not all cable has been switched over in either case the fcc mandate is only for airwaves ie: antenna off air broadcasts

Answer 2

here;

http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html

www.dtv.gov

Answer 3

Consumers also benefit because digital broadcasting allows stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, and digital is much more efficient than analog. For example, rather than being limited to providing one analog program, a broadcaster is able to offer a super sharp “high definition” (HD) digital program or multiple “standard definition” (SD) digital programs simultaneously through a process called “multicasting.” Multicasting allows broadcast stations to offer several channels of digital programming at the same time, using the same amount of spectrum required for one analog program. So, for example, while a station broadcasting in analog on channel 7 is only able to offer viewers one program, a station broadcasting in digital on channel 7 can offer viewers one digital program on channel 7-1, a second digital program on channel 7-2, a third digital program on channel 7-3, and so on. This means more programming choices for viewers. Further, DTV can provide interactive video and data services that are not possible with analog technology.

Digital is a better quality signal that takes up less space than analog. It will allow us to do more with the current satellite systems currently in use (already in orbit around the earth). Pluse the populous will get a better quality signal for watching television shows.