The common American household watches over 8 hours of TV per day. For a person who lives alone it is estimated to watch over 4 1/2 hours of TV per day. Americans love their TV and studies show it is not going to slow down anytime soon. So what will happen to my old TV set and will it still be working in a few months?

February 17, 2009 is the day analog TV will end. That is the day the FCC has mandated that all broadcast TV stations stop sending out over the air analog signals. So what does this mean to me who has had the same old analog set for the last 10 years? Or a number 2 or 3 analog TV set in other parts of my home. You first might be asking yourself - what is an analog TV set? And, do I have one? If you still get TV programming from rabbit ears you have an analog set. If you use cable or satellite and have what is known as 4:3 TV (the square TV shape) you most likely have an analog TV set. One way to tell if your TV set is analog, is to look and see if the TV has a hook-up for an outside antenna?

In some markets, some analog stations are signing off early. In Kansas City Missouri, the CW affiliate KCWE channel 29 will be signing off it's analog signal December 15, 2008. Many other stations in other markets are sure to follow the same pattern. This will let viewers know before the mandated date if their sets are ready for the switch.

I have an analog TV set what do I do next?

First I suggest you call "Sanford and Son"and have them take it away or two, you can keep your present set running with a digital set-top converter box*. The FCC is offering coupons to all Americans (limit 2 per household) to buy a new digital converter box. Below is the Announcement by the FCC how to claim your big $80 so you can keep your old analog TVs working after February 17, 2009.

Analog TVs Will Need Additional Equipment to Receive Over-the-air Television When the DTV Transition Ends!

Consumers who depend on antennas (including outside antennas and "rabbit ears") to receive over-the-air broadcast signals on TV sets having only analog tuners will need to obtain separate digital-to-analog set-top converter boxes* to watch over-the-air TV. These boxes receive digital signals and convert them into analog format for display on analog TVs. Analog sets connected to such converter boxes will display digital broadcasts, but not necessarily in the full, original digital quality.

Converter Box* Coupon Program

Right now and until March 31, 2009, all U.S. households will be eligible to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has responsibility for administering the coupon program. More information can be found at DTV2009.gov or by calling 1-800-DTV-2009.

So what should I do? Buy a new HDTV or keep my old analog TV set?

This will all depend on your budget. If you can afford a new Digital TV then read next weeks article-What type of Digital TV to buy before February 17, 2009. I strongly suggest you budget for a new HDTV set before that date if you don't already have one, it will be the best entertainment investment you will ever make.

*To purchase a digital converter box visit: http://www.hdtvultimate.com