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ETV Administration Building
1101 George Rogers Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29201-4761
Phone: 803-737-3545

ETV Telecommunications Center
1041 George Rogers Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-737-9959

DTV FAQ

Q: Why is ETV switching on February 17, 2009?

A: By shutting off ETV's 11 analog transmitters, ETV will save almost $35,000 per month in electrical costs. This figure does not include maintenance costs to keep the aging transmitters up and running. Additionally, these substantial cost-savings had already been factored into the budget for the current year, and do not allow ETV the option to wait until June.

Q: Will I be affected by the transition to DTV?

A: Those who receive their ETV signal "over-the-air" using an indoor or outdoor antenna with their analog television, will be affected by this switch.

The educational programming delivered directly to schools, universities, and other public service agencies will not be affected.

Individuals who have cable or satellite service will not be affected by the switch, as their service provider will make the switch for them. Individuals who own a digital television or an analog-to-digital converter box will need to re-scan their channels on the morning of Feb. 18.

Q: Will I need a special antenna to receive DTV over-the-air?

A: If you need a rooftop antenna to receive analog TV broadcasts, the same antenna generally will work to receive digital TV broadcasts. You should not have to purchase new antennas that are marketed as "digital ready" or "HD ready."

Q: What about my VCR, DVD player, camcorder, and gaming console? Will I be able to use them with a digital television set?

A: Yes. Digital television sets are "backward compatible," meaning existing analog equipment (VCRs, DVD players, camcorders, video games, etc.) will work on digital TV sets.

Q: Cable and satellite operators offer a digital package. Is this the same as HDTV?

A: No. "Digital" and high definition programming are not the same. If you want to watch HDTV programming on cable or satellite, you will need to subscribe to your provider's HDTV package and view the programming on an HDTV set. You may also need a set-top box or new satellite dish to view HDTV programming. Check with your cable or satellite provider to find out what kind of programming you can receive, and what equipment you'll need to receive it.

For more information about ETV's Digital Television Services:
E-mail Us at: dtvtransition@scetv.org