Digital TV FAQ & Glossary

Q. What is Digital TV?
A. Digital TV is a new system using information transmitted as "data bits" -- like a computer -- to display movie-quality pictures and sound. It replaces the traditional TV system using magnetic waves to transmit and display TV pictures and sound.
 
Q. What are the advantages of Digital TV?
A. In addition to improved picture and sound quality, an important benefit of DTV is that it will free up parts of the broadcast spectrum for public safety as well as other valuable uses. This is possible because the modern technology of DTV is more efficient than analog TV technology. DTV allows the same number of stations to broadcast using fewer total channels (less of the broadcast spectrum) which will free up scarce and valuable spectrum for public safety and new wireless services.

Q. When does the conversion to Digital TV take effect?
A. Digital TV is already available. All broadcast stations are required to deliver a Digital TV signal. Congress passed a law on setting a final deadline for the DTV transition of February 17, 2009. Most television stations will continue broadcasting both analog and digital programming until February 17, 2009, when all analog broadcasting will stop. Analog TVs receiving over-the-air programming will still work after that date, but owners of these TVs will need to buy converter boxes to change digital broadcasts into analog format. Converter boxes will be available from consumer electronic products retailers at that time. Cable and satellite subscribers with analog TVs should contact their service providers about obtaining converter boxes for the DTV transition.

Q. How is SDPB Television using Digital TV?
A. SDPB is using digital TV to meet our educational mission and to provide South Dakotans with greater access to a wider array of programming. Digital TV gives us new tools for the new century and SDPB is uniquely positioned to deliver high-quality educational material to South Dakota homes, schools and workplaces.

Q. Does SDPB broadcast programs in high definition?
A. Yes. In addition to our main analog channel, the one that our viewers have been familiar with for many years, South Dakota Public Broadcasting currently broadcasts two channels that are available to those with digital TV sets. One of these digital channels is devoted exclusively to high definition programming. Called SDPB-HD, this channel features PBS programming in full high definition format. The schedule for this channel can be found here: http://www.sdpb.org/schedules/tv.asp

SDPB also broadcasts a digital version of our main analog channel. The program schedule is the same as our main channel, but the programming is delivered in digital format. A complete schedule can be found on the link above, or in SDPB Magazine.


Q: What are future plans for SDPB’s digital programming?

By February of 2009, SDPB will combine the programming available on our high definition channel and our main channel. The new channel will offer a mix of high definition and non-high definition programming, including locally produced programs such as Dakota Life in high definition. We will also offer two additional digital channels. One, called the SDPB Create Channel, will offer a mix of how-to, cooking, travel and lifestyle programs, the other, called SDPB Kids, will be devoted to children’s educational programming.

Our long-term plans include serving South Dakotans with a wider selection of local documentaries, world-class lectures, legislative and sports coverage and regionally produced programs on these two new digital channels.


Q. Will I still be able to watch television on my existing TV set?
A. Digital-to-analog converter boxes will make DTV signals viewable on analog TV sets. These converter boxes will be available in retail stores during the transition. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce has been directed by Congress to set up a program that will allow households to obtain coupons that can be applied toward the purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes. In order to experience true High Definition and the full range of benefits offered by digital television, however, viewers will need new digital television receivers and displays.

Q. How much will the Digital TV hardware cost me?
A. The NTIA is developing rules that will allow households to obtain $40 coupons that can be applied toward the purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes. Currently, a new digital television with a tuner capable of receiving displaying HD retails for about $1,000. Standard Definition TV sets (SDTV) are currently priced about the same as analog TV have been selling. Prices are expected to continue dropping as demand increases.

Q. Does SDPB have multicast channels?
A. SDPB isdeveloping plans to multicast different program streams. Plans are for the network to include our regular broadcast schedule; a channel with PBS kids and adult shows; a lifestyle channel of crafting, cooking, home project and travel shows; and, a kids channel featuring the best of PBS’ kids shows, as well as kids shows not available on our main channel. For more, check our schedule.

Q. Do I need cable or satellite service to receive Digital TV at home?
A. No. Digital TV is an over-the-air broadcast system that does not require special wiring to the home. You will need either a converter box or a television with an integrated digital receiver. However, digital channels from SDPB and most commercial stations are available from both cable and satellite providers.

Q. Can I watch DTV on my home computer?
A. Today you can purchase a high definition TV tuner card for about $200 that adapts your home computer for Digital TV reception. Manufacturers are developing a new generation of computers that will also work as Digital TV receivers.

Q. Can I record HD and other digital programs?
A. Yes. Set top boxes capable of recording HD programs are currently available from several manufacturers, including TiVo, DirecTV, DISH and most cable television providers.

Analog television
The prevailing technology in use for more than 50 years to transmit conventional television signals. By comparison, LPs, or vinyl records, are an example of analog recording technology that have been superseded by digital media such as compact discs.

Bandwidth
The amount of spectrum used for a broadcast application. For DTV, the FCC-approved plan calls for assigning 6 MHz (megahertz) of the broadcast spectrum for each television broadcaster. This bandwidth can be allocated in different ways: for one analog signal, one HDTV signal, four or more “multicast” digital signals, and datacasting.

Broadcasting
Transmission of a television signal. DTV allows stations to broadcast a single HDTV (High Definition Television) picture or to multicast four or more SDTV (Standard Definition Television) signals simultaneously.

Datacasting
Transmission of data along with video signals that can be stored for later retrieval. This can include video, audio, graphics and text, especially for educational programming.

Digital TV (DTV)
A broadcast signal that is encoded as a series of zeroes and ones — the digital code used in computers, calculators, compact discs and on the Internet.

Interactive television
Interactive TV ads in-depth, Internet-like content to an existing television program. By using a TV set-top box, you can receive additional information related to the program you are watching. Devices like WebTV Plus™ have been delivering early versions of this capability to viewers.

High Definition Television (HDTV)
High Definition television. This is the digital format that provides crystal-clear quality, wide-screen pictures with surround sound comparable to a CD. The aspect ratio of HDTV is 16 : 9 as compared to today’s 4 : 3 format.

Multicasting
Simultaneous transmission of several programs within the digital channel. Viewers can choose one program which will be delivered at a lower resolution than HDTV. See also SDTV.

Public service broadcasting
Educational and informational broadcasting services that respond to the needs of a wide range of audiences, many of them under-served by other media.

Standard Definition Television (SDTV)
This digital format offers the ability to multicast standard-quality programs instead of a single HDTV image. SDTV delivers picture and sound without noise, ghosts and interference and could include a wide range of data services.