Analog TV is past its sell-by date
July 10th, 2007
Should you still buy an analog TV? Stores are marking them down and clearing them out, making way for more digital televisions. The DTV transition will wrap up on February 17, 2009, and if you want a “classic-style” TV, this may be your last chance.
Let me say this upfront: I’ll pass on this deal. The value proposition of an obsolete TV set just doesn’t move me.
Granted, an old-technology TV isn’t completely worthless. It won’t turn into a rock when analog broadcasts end, though you will need a digital TV converter box to continue receiving over-the-air telecasts. The box may cost $50 to $70, although you can request a coupon from the government next year to get $40 off. But consider the hassle factor: The digital converter will take up a bit of space, and will take some time and effort to set up. You will have extra cables, an extra remote control and possibly extra energy usage compared with a comparably sized digital TV with an integrated ATSC tuner.
Also, a DTV converter box cannot provide the benefits of high-definition television. HD programming will be seen in standard definition (SDTV) form on an analog TV. You can’t see HD without an HDTV.
Not everybody cares about HDTV, of course. High-def is a feast for the eyes, but early models came with eye-popping price tags. As you’ve probably noticed, HDTV prices have plunged recently. Many budget-priced SDTV digital models are also on the market. You’ll want to compare prices very carefully before buying another analog TV.
Most viewers abandoned antennas years ago. Won’t an analog TV still be adequate for cable or satellite subscribers?
In many cases, yes, as long as you don’t want HD. (Pay-TV customers who want HD will require an HDTV and a subscription to a package that includes HD programming.)
Cable subscribers who don’t need cable boxes today may find them necessary in 2009, depending in part on the outcome of rule-making underway at the FCC. Cable systems are also shifting to digital service, which with an analog TV requires a box. The industry may still take several years to fully complete its own digital transition. Even digital TV owners still require a box, in many cases, to receive all digital cable channels and features.
If you subscribe to DirecTV or Dish Network direct-broadcast satellite service, will an analog TV still do the job? It will if you receive your local channels via satellite. If you use an antenna to watch local stations, in 2009 you will need a satellite receiver or digital TV that includes an ATSC tuner.
Post-2009, analog TVs connected to DVD or videocassette players, or game consoles, can remain in service.
Analog-only TVs are no longer produced for the U.S. market. Until retailers clear their stock, the FCC requires them to display a prominent “consumer alert” warning of the DTV transition. Some stores have been lax about doing so, but since late May federal regulators have stepped up enforcement.
By now, analog TVs seem like so much day-old bread—and they should be priced accordingly. Stores aren’t exactly giving them away yet. But your friends might, if you give them a couple years.
Before buying an analog TV, compare the prices and features with digital models. In stores or online, check carefully to determine which TVs include a digital broadcast tuner. Digital TVs often include a QAM tuner, which will sometimes allow you to view local stations or other unscrambled digital cable channels without a cable box. If you subscribe to digital cable, consider a “digital cable ready” (DCR) digital TV if you can find one. This kind of DTV will, in some cases, allow you to use a CableCARD instead of a set-top box.
Earlier:
• Analog TV violations: Notify the FCC
• Target’s analog TV muddle
Read more:
• Analog TV Labeling