February 17, 2009, is the date full-power TV stations in the U.S. are scheduled to end analog broadcasting. But there's a lot of confusion. Let's clear up some myths:

DTV Myth #1: Everyone has to buy a new TV.
TV's hooked to cable or satellite (about 85% of households nationwide) will function as they always have. People who use rabbit ears or an antenna (about 15% of households nationwide) will either have to buy a converter box or a new TV, or hook up to cable or satellite.

DTV Myth #2: Analog cable is going away.
The mandatory conversion is for broadcast stations only. Cable systems can continue offering analog service until they choose not to.

DTV Myth #3: You will need digital cable to get major broadcast networks.
The FCC is requiring all cable systems which offer analog service to downconvert local digital broadcast stations and offer them on analog cable until at least 2012. (Either that, or provide every customer with a converter box, which would eliminate the need for analog cable.)

DTV Myth #4: DTV is the same thing as HDTV.
DTV is a form of broadcasting. HDTV is a higher-resolution, widescreen broadcast sometimes carried on DTV stations. Not all programming on digital TV is high-definition.

DTV Myth #5: All widescreen broadcasts are HDTV.
Most programming in 16-by-9 format is HD, but not all. For example, news video shown during local widescreen newscasts is often SD video in 16-by-9 format. In some cases, only the news set cameras are HD.

DTV Myth #6: TV stations will be required to broadcast in HDTV.
Stations are only required to broadcast a digital signal. The programming does not have to be high definition.

DTV Myth #7: VHF will be discontinued.
In fact, it's UHF channels 52-69 that will be discontinued, leaving VHF channels 2-13 and UHF channels 14-51. (Channels 70-83 were discontinued in the 1980's.)

DTV Myth #8: DTV is only on UHF.
In many markets, this is currently true, but will change. A number of VHF stations have opted to switch their longtime VHF channel from analog to digital in 2009, and turn off their UHF digital station. If you put up a UHF-only antenna, you may not be able to get adequate reception of the VHF stations.

DTV Myth #9: All analog broadcasts will end on 2/17/2009.
The digital conversion is not yet mandatory for low-power TV stations, TV translators, and stations in Canada and Mexico. Major cities will likely still have religious, home shopping, and/or Spanish-language analog broadcasts on low-power stations. Viewers in many rural areas served by translators will still be able to receive major networks in analog. Canada and Mexico are on different conversion schedules and will still have analog broadcasting for several years.