Analog
Analog TVs are mostly older types of TVs that are slowly going the way of the dodo. They were so named because they received analog signals--signals which were analogous to the sounds and images they transferred (hence the name). The analog signal contains subtleties and variances and takes up a comparatively large part of the broadband. For all its inefficiencies, it worked very well; television was broadcast in analog for decades and no one seemed to mind.
Digital
Digital TVs, on the other hand, work under an entirely different concept. Digital signals are sent in a series of short bursts, each identical in size and length. The process creates a binary code--a series of 1s and 0s, which can be used to send information much the same way a computer does. The television signal is still sent only much more efficiently, taking up less space on the broadband and carrying much more information.
Advantages of Digital
The advantages of digital TV are twofold. Firstly, because the signal can carry much more information, the sound and image are much sharper and clearer. Digital broadcasting is what allows high definition (HD) shows to be sent into your home with a crispness and clarity which analog simply cannot hope to match. More importantly, digital broadcasting takes up much less of the broadband spectrum. That frees up space for the government to use for emergency broadcasts, as well as making space available to wireless companies and similar interests.
The Digital Transfer
The U.S. government has ordered all TV stations in the United States to broadcast solely in digital by the summer of 2009. In order to help facilitate this transition, all televisions sold in the United States after March 2007 must contain a digital tuner . If you've bought a TV after that time, it should be able to receive digital signals just fine.
Upgrade Converters
Any television made before 1998 is likely an analog TV, which means it won't receive programming after June 2009. TVs made between 1998 and 2007 may or may not have a digital tuner, depending on the exact model. People with analog TVs shouldn't panic, however. Most cable and satellite services offer digital converters as part of their service. You can call them to confirm whether or not your current receiver is set up for digital and order one if it isn't. For consumers without cable or satellite service, a digital converter may be purchased at any electronics store for about $50. It plugs right into your antenna and will allow you to continue watching shows through your analog TV as normal.
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