If you watch with an antenna and already have a Digital TV tuner...

You are good to go.

If you already have a TV with a digital tuner, you are ready for over-the air reception of Digital TV.

Every TV set made before 1998 was a traditional "analog" television. Between 1998 and 2004, a limited number of big-screen, projection TV sets included digital tuners. If you bought a new TV set since 2004, there is a high likelihood that it has a digital tuner.

Do You Have a Digital TV Tuner?

Many DTVs and other digital television equipment will have labels or markings on them, or statements in the informational materials that came with them, to indicate that they contain digital tuners. If the labels or markings "Integrated Digital Tuner," "Digital Tuner Built-in," "DTV," "ATSC," or "HDTV" appear on your television equipment, you should be able to view digital over-the-air programming without the need for a digital-to-analog converter box.

If you cannot determine whether your television set or other television equipment contains a digital tuner, check your equipment for the manufacturer name and model number and contact your consumer electronics retailer or the manufacturer.

Buying a new TV

By law, beginning March 1, 2007, all television reception devices (including TVs, VCRs, DVRs, etc.) imported into the U.S. or shipped in interstate commerce must contain a digital tuner.

Retailers may continue to sell analog-only devices from existing inventory, but must prominently display on or near the analog-only device a Consumer Alert label that indicates that it is analog-only and will require a digital-to-analog converter box after the switch to digital-only broadcasting. Therefore, all television equipment being sold should contain a digital tuner, or should be identified at point-of-sale as not having one.