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Digital Television Transition
After February 17, 2009, most television stations will broadcast only in digital, as required by the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005. You will not be affected by the transition if you own a television with a digital tuner or subscribe to a TV service (e.g., cable or satellite). EPA is encouraging consumers who own an analog TV set and who receive free broadcasts (via rabbit ears or a roof antenna) to extend the life of their TV by purchasing a digital converter box. For consumers who choose to buy a new digital TV, EPA recommends energy efficient sets with the ENERGY STAR label and provides information below on opportunities to recycle unwanted TVs:
Related Link
- Will my TV work next year?
- How can I tell if I have an analog or a digital TV?
- Extend the life of your analog TV with a converter box
- What should I do with my old TV?
- If I decide to buy a new digital TV, where can I find one that is energy efficient?
- Additional Resources
Will my TV work next year?
Currently, many over-the-air stations are broadcasting in both analog and digital TV formats. If you use “rabbit ears” or a rooftop antenna with your analog television, you must take action before February 17, 2009, to continue receiving television broadcasts. Your options include:
- Buy a converter box that will plug into your analog TV;
- Connect your analog TV to cable, satellite or other pay service; or
- Buy a TV with a digital tuner.
How can I tell if I have an analog or a digital TV?
The best way to determine whether your TV set has a digital tuner built in is to consult your owner’s manual. NTSC in the manual or on the back of the TV means that the TV is analog. Or look on your TV set for an input connection labeled “digital input” or “ATSC” (for Advanced Television Systems Committee, which is digital TV format). If that’s not possible, you may be able to look up information about your TV set on the manufacturer’s Web site.
Here are some general guidelines that may help:
- TVs manufactured before 1998: They probably don’t have digital tuners at all. Almost every TV set made before 1998 was a traditional analog set.
- Projection TVs manufactured between 1998 and 2004: Only a limited percentage of projection TV sets (and generally only those 42 inches in diameter or larger) included digital tuners before 2004.
- TVs manufactured since 2004: Your chances of having a built-in digital tuner improve dramatically. Starting in 2004, many of the TV sets sold at popular electronics stores feature digital tuners that will work after February 17, 2009. But it's not a sure thing. Even some of the newer TV sets are purely display monitors that lack the internal circuitry needed to pick up digital broadcasts. Usually these sets have been advertised as "HD-ready" or "HDTV monitor" sets. That means they can display digital and high-definition signals, but they need help getting those signals in the first place. You'll still need a special converter or a cable TV connection.
Extend the life of your analog TV with a converter box
Using a converter box will help extend the life of your analog TV by enabling you to continue to receive over-the-air broadcasts. A converter box converts digital transmission to analog so your analog TV will continue to receive television broadcasts after February 17, 2009. Certified digital-to-analog converter boxes are expected to cost between $50-$70. To help consumers pay for the converter boxes, the federal government is offering US households up to two $40 coupons. Coupons are free, but they expire after 90 days and supply is limited. Upon request, coupons will be mailed to you by the federal government.
To apply for your converter box coupons visit www.DTV2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009). For more information on the TV converter box coupon program please visit www.DTV2009.gov. The site also enables you to locate a converter box retailer near you.
When buying a converter box, look for one with the ENERGY STAR label. Digital-to-analog converter boxes that are ENERGY STAR-qualified use less energy than conventional converter boxes. If all of the digital-to-analog converter boxes sold in the U.S. met the ENERGY STAR specification, over the lifetime of the products Americans could save approximately 13 billion kilowatt hours and one billion dollars in energy costs — reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking more than one million cars off the road.
What should I do with my old TV?
If you decide to buy a digital TV and no longer want your old analog TV, look for opportunities to recycle it. Recycling TVs recovers valuable materials from the circuit boards, metal wiring, leaded glass, and plastics. Call your local household hazardous waste collection and recycling program to find out whether they will be sponsoring an upcoming event to recycle TVs and other electronics. To find a local recycling program, check out the following sites:
- Earth
911
Earth 911 has a zip-code based search engine that enables you to look for recycling options in your community for various products. Earth 911 has taken environmental hotlines, web sites and other information sources nationwide, and consolidated them into one network.
- My Green Electronics
Provided by the Consumer Electronics Association, this site is a resource for consumers wishing to purchase green products and/or searching for local opportunities to recycle or donate used electronics.
- Sony
and Waste Management
Sony, an EPA Plug-In To eCycling Partner, has teamed up with Waste Management, Inc. to offer their customers the opportunity to recycle their used Sony electronics for free. Other brands of TVs can also be recycled at selected Waste Management locations for a fee. To find a drop-off location, call 877-439-2795 or go to www.sony.com/recycle.
- National
Recycling Coalition
With an easy to navigate hyperlinked map, this page provides links to state recycling resources. Many local communities have special collection/recycling days that are highlighted on their Web sites.
For many working electronic products, donation is a good option because it facilitates reuse and extends the product life. However, with the switch to digital broadcasting, many charitable organizations will no longer be accepting analog TVs. Please check with the organization before you drop off your old electronics.
If I decide to buy a new digital TV, where can I find one that is energy efficient?
Will the Retailer Take and Recycle your Old TV?
When purchasing a new TV, ask the retailer if they will take and recycle your old, unwanted set when they deliver your new digital TV. For example, Best Buy offers their customers the service of removing an unwanted TV for recycling when they deliver a new set.
Today's TVs, when combined with related products like DVD players and set-top boxes, make up about 10 percent of a household's annual electricity bill. ENERGY STAR qualified TVs use about 30 percent less energy than standard units. You can find the ENERGY STAR on everything from standard TVs, to HD-ready TVs, to the largest flat-screen plasma TVs. By choosing ENERGY STAR, you are saving energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting cleaner air without sacrificing the product quality and performance you expect.
Additional Resources
Digital Television Transition Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 151K, about PDF)
Developed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and US EPA this joint fact sheet provides information on the digital transition, emphasizes that no one will have to replace an analog set and outlines opportunities for recycling for those who want to replace their sets.Digital Transition: What Every Consumer Should Know About DTV
This site by the Federal Communications Commission provides a lot of valuable information including details on the transition from analog to digital broadcasts, who will be affected, and tips for consumers to consider when buying a new TV.TV Converter Box Coupon Program
This site by the US Department of Commerce presents information regarding all aspects of the TV converter box coupon program including how to get a coupon, where to purchase a converter box, and answers to many other common questions.How to reuse or recycle your other electronics
This page lists resources and links for you to use to find recycling opportunities in your community for computers and other electronic equipment.
- Want to recycle your old cell phone? Check out our “Recycle Your Cell Phone. It’s An Easy Call” campaign for more information.
Electronics Recycling Collection Event Tool Kit
The Plug-In To eCycling Event Tool Kit for consumer electronics recycling events provides organizations with key information to help them stage electronics recycling events. The Tool Kit is for use primarily by local governments, not-for-profit organizations, retailers or other interested groups (such as computer users groups or clubs) that are considering hosting electronics recycling events.
