By Feb. 17, 2009, all broadcast TV transmissions in the US will switch to digital format. After that date, television will not be broadcast in analog signals any longer. Television viewing will only be possible if one has a digital converter box.

This will actually be a benefit to viewers because it will mean: better picture, better sound, and more content. So now is a great time to make the switch. Instead of merely watching TV you can enjoy everything this new home entertainment experience has to offer. Imagine: brilliant picture quality from a digital, high-definition television (HDTV), with sound to match. With HDTV you'll see every little detail. Add a top-notch surround sound system to that and you’ll hear it all too.

If buying a new TV display, remember that bigger isn’t always better. Take your room size into account. Check the minimum and maximum viewing distances for a particular display and make sure it works with the size of your room.

For the best viewing, you’ll want a wide screen HDTV set with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This duplicates cinema screens the most closely, so you’ll see movies just as the filmmakers intended. HDTV broadcasts and most DVDs also play in the wide-screen format. For the most flexibility, including being able to receive over-the-air broadcasts, make sure your TV comes with a HD tuner. Plasma TVs offer a great picture with deep blacks, and for screens more than 50-inches, are a great value. LCDs perform well in bright rooms because of their matte screens and are available in a number of smaller sizes. If space is not an issue, larger screen rear-projection DLP TVs provide excellent image quality.

Dolby Digital is the audio standard for digital TVs and DVDs so you'll need at least one component that has a Dolby Digital output. This can be a DVD player, the set-top box from your digital satellite service or cable company, or the TV itself. If you have an HDTV, you could consider a Blu-ray Disc player to complete your home theater. The high-definition Blu-ray format lets you take full advantage of your HDTV’s display capabilities and the latest high-resolution surround sound technologies.