Utahns getting ready for digital TV conversion

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Jed Boal reporting A digital television transformation sweeps the country in about a year. Tens of thousands of Utahns who want to be ahead of the curve already applied for coupons to cut the cost.

Many of you who watch us on cable or satellite will not need to do anything. If you watch us over-the-air, on an analog TV, you should apply for a coupon to save yourself some money.

On Feb, 17, 2009, TV broadcasters nationwide must switch to a digital signal.

KSL-TV 5 already sends that signal, but you may not watch that way. People who watch us over-the-air on analog televisions will not be able to see our digital signal. Mary Dickson, KUED Channel 7 creative director, says, "If you still want to get a TV signal after Feb. 17, 2009, you need a set-top converter box; if you are now getting your signal over-the-air."

Utahns getting ready for digital TV conversion

Forty-dollar coupons from the government will help cover the cost of the boxes, which range in price from $50-$70.

So far, 32,000 Utahns have already applied to get government coupons for set-top converter boxes. According to Dickson, that number is much higher than average around the country. She says, "We've got an educated audience, but there are still a lot of confused people."

An estimated 200,000 homes in Utah watch over the air only. "When you consider 32,000 have coupons, that's a lot who will be left out if they don't take some action by that coupon deadline, which is March 31, 2009.

The coupons will start going out sometime next month, along with a list of retailers where you can buy one of these digital converter boxes. You don't have to wait until next February to plug it in and start enjoying the digital signal.

Once you get the coupon, you have 90 days to use it.

If you get your programming from cable or satellite, contact your provider to find out if you need to do anything.

Dickson says the switch "is going to free up some airwaves for sale to cellular companies, for some emergency services. That's why they're doing it."

There's a limit of two coupons per household. Call 1-(888)-DTV-2009 or go to the related link for more information.