Tulsa - Have you wondered how you'll watch television when the country switches to digital TV? A new survey says more than a third of Americans don't even know about it. NewsChannel 8's Mark Bradshaw covers what you need to do to stop 'Analog Armageddon.'

We're going to clear up the confusion and possibly save you some money because the survey also found that a lot of people will rush out to buy something they may not need.

The analog to digital change is going to happen a year from now in February 2009. It may seem like a long way off, but you should start thinking about it now. For most of you, it won't be an issue. But, millions of TV sets will have a big problem unless some important decisions are made.

Kirt Wingate is addicted to TV and watches his favorite shows on a set still hooked up to rabbit ears. Wingate doesn't mind, because his TV is long paid for and with no cable or satellite fees, it's free.

"People who have satellite or cable flip through a hundred channels and switch off and say there's nothing on," he says with a laugh. "TV has always been free, why pay for it?"

But, Kirt will have to pay something when the airwaves go all digital, or his favorite shows on his analog TV will turn to static.

To prevent analog armageddon, we went to the experts at Video Revolution and Ultimate Electronics, where we found row after row of digital TVs for sale. Many of them are of the hugely popular high def variety, but not one analog TV.

So, what's this 'analog' we're talking about? The analog spectrum has become by and large inefficient to carry TV signals. But they're still valuable. So next year, the broadcast airwaves will be used for wireless data and public safety providers, like police departments. A digital signal gives off better sound and we all know a much better picture. So digital in, analog out.

Thomas Clegg is with Ultimate Electronics. He says that will leave rabbit ear users like Wingate with three choices, each which will cost him something. But, his old TV won't be obsolete. Either buy a new television -- remember they're all digital now. Prices have come down, but its still a large one time investment. A second option -- cable or satellite subscribers already pull in a digital signal, so Wingate could hook his TV to that. And, the third option is to keep the old TV and rabbit ears and buy a converter box.

"The government is going to give you a 40 dollar subsidy towards two of them per household and they should run anywhere from 60 to 100 dollars depending on the one you buy," Clegg says. "And, so it'll cost you as little as 20 bucks which is not a lot of money to get TV."

But, Video Revolutions' Joel Reed questions whether there will be enough 40 dollar government vouchers to go around, or whether there will be enough resistance to change to extend the digital deadline. If not, February 17th, 2009 could become the biggest change to television since color replaced black and white.

"There's going to be a lot of people a big surprise, that they're not going to be able to get their regular soap opera shows they've been watching for years. They'll be totally in the dark."

Kirt Wingate won't be one of them. He says he'll probably pick up converter boxes for a couple of TVs in the house, and finally give in and buy a new digital set to replace one. All to feed his addiction.

"It's pretty important because when the TV shuts off I wake u. It's on all night long."

We called around to several electronic stores. They tell us the converter boxes should be in sometime this summer. Make sure you check around, because we've heard some will be as low as 40 dollars, so with that 40-dollar government voucher, the box could end up being free.

If you want to know more about the digital transition, visit www.dtvanswers.com.

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