Do you here that? That solid rumbling coming from just beyond the horizon? What is it, you ask? Why, it's only the biggest change in consumer technology since the television began invading everyone's homes shortly after World War II nearly sixty years ago. December 7, 1941 may have been the first day to live in infamy in that far off time, but February 17, 2009 will be it's second infamous cousin in the world of home entertainment.

This bit of information that you are reading now is presented in hopes that you will not be caught on the outside of the upcoming technological movement about to take place, looking in and wondering why you didn't see it coming. You will want to be prepared so that you will know what to expect, and what to do. There is nothing worse than not knowing what part you play in this national change.

What we are talking about is digital television, and how it is going to affect your lives from now one. Watching television in your home will never be the same again after the big change that will be taking place next year. Imagine having movie theater quality sight and sound come standard on every new television set, and every new television broadcast. That is the change we are preparing you for here.

The downside, if you are not prepared, is that this change over could cost you. If you currently have an analog television, you know, the kind that is still relying on a rooftop antenna or "rabbit ears"? If this is you, listen up, because this change affects you most of all. If you are still getting full broadcast television in your local area from this antenna set-up, then you can look forward to purchasing a set-top converter box, that is designed to convert the upcoming new digital signals coming to your television from the full broadcast providers into a signal you can see on your old model television. If you think you won't need this little converter box, try using your television on and after February 17, 2009. You'll be kicking yourself, I assure you.

Of course, right now, most broadcast providers are transmitting both an analog signal and a digital signal, but after February of next year, analog will cease to exist, opening up more airwave space to services such as broadband and other mediums that use the airwaves. Let's face it, analog is a dinosaur.

If you are dreading having a set-top converter on your old analog dinosaur, the pathway for you is clear: either enjoy the final episodes of your favorite shows on regular broadcast, or start looking for a suitable alternative. All new television sets manufactured after March 1, 2007 are required to have a digital tuner already built in. This would eliminate the need for a set top box.

The only other alternative for you is to subscribe to a good satellite service provider. Not cable. Why not cable? Because the government is not requiring their programming to come to you in digital, so you may not get it. With satellite, you are already going to get your programming in digital. All of it in digital, some of it - a lot of it, in fact, in high definition. Remember movie theater quality sight and sound? High definition is a key component of enjoying this benefit.