Is Now the Time to Buy HDTV?

By Amy Buttell Crane
Bankrate.com

Demand for bigger televisions with sharper images and top-quality audio is exploding. Manufacturers are rushing to meet the demand, which dovetails nicely with congressionally- mandated deadline for a switch from traditional analog TV signals to digital TV signals to occur February 17, 2009.

As is the norm with technology, prices have dropped on high-definition, plasma and flat-panel TVs, so they've become much more accessible to the average consumer. And while the technology is still evolving, and will likely become cheaper still, experts believe that now is not a bad time to buy if you're in the market for a new TV.

"For a big-ticket item like a TV, which is used seven hours a day for decades, let's say you are going to save 10 percent on a $2,000 set by waiting," says Jonathan Blum, host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Strange New World." "Be rational. You're forgoing the near-term experience of watching the Super Bowl in HD -- very cool -- for future savings that are almost impossible to measure." HD is TV-speak for high-definition.

As always, there are some devils in the details. To get the true HDTV picture and sound that will blow your mind on that wonderful new TV, you've got to have access to HD content. Virtually all cable TV providers and satellite TV providers offer HDTV programming at a price somewhat higher than regular cable programming.

There's also the perplexing dilemma of the confusing noise surrounding different types of TVs. Walk into your local electronics store, and you're bombarded by hundreds of different TVs -- there's plasma, flat-panel, flat-screen and big-screen. Before you buy, you need to think about how you'll use your new TV, where it will go in your house, and who will be watching it.

How Digital TV Works
For virtually the entire history of television, signals were delivered via radio frequency waves, known as analog TV. In contrast, digital, or HDTV, delivers signals through computer code, which screens out interference and provides a much higher quality picture and audio than analog.

But this isn't just about consumers adopting a new technology. It's also about a national transition to digital TV, during which analog TV signals will be phased out.

At that point, most people will be able to get TV signals, even if they don't have a digital TV, through cable or satellite providers. The only folks who will be out of luck are those who still tune their TVs in with rabbit ears, and they'll need a converter to get signals.

Content and information technology providers are eagerly anticipating mandated digital TV, not only because it will fuel consumers' desire for more content, but also for the opportunities to sell new communications equipment to police, fire and rescue officials across the country. This is because the analog signals currently used to carry TV signals will be turned over to first responders to improve communications.

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