The transition from analog to digital television (DTV) broadcasting in the United States on June 12, 2009, changed the way consumers receive and watch television, as well as what TV models are available to purchase. Some consumers still watch the remaining low-powered analog TV stations and continue to watch analog video sources such as VHS. That's why it's important to understand analog TV. We explain the differences between the two formats.
How is digital television different from analog television?
Digital TV offers a better viewing experience compared to analog. There is no signal loss the further away you are from the transmitter, and both audio and video are transmitted on the same signal. Although some people still use analog, it is considered an outdated technology. The U.S. government has mandated that all analog and low-power TV stations must be converted to digital by July 13, 2021.
Before the digital transition, analog TV signals were transmitted in a similar manner to radio signals. Video signals were transmitted in AM, while audio was transmitted in FM. The transmission was subject to interference, such as ghosting and snow, depending on the distance and geographic location of the TV receiving the signal.
Additionally, the amount of bandwidth allocated to an analog TV channel limited the resolution and overall picture quality.
