The one question that worries many people about digital TV is whether they have all the proper equipment. But if you have DSTV you're safe since it already makes use of a digital signal via satellite. However, for those who rely on antennae to receive a signal (which is an analogue signal), you have two options.

The first option is to purchase a television that contains a built-in digital tuner. This is unfortunately not readily available. So when making a TV purchase, don't forget to enquire about whether a digital TV tuner is built-in.

The second option is to buy a set-top box. This piece of equipment simply decodes the existing digital signal. For the disadvantaged, the government will be providing subsidies to the tune of R2.4-billion — a rigorous testing procedure will determine who the recipients of these subsidies will be.

The set-top box manufacturing industry looks set to be kick-started with the government's plans to establish local factories. According to www.southafrica.info, a set-top box should set you back about R500. Reutech and Nashua Electronics were selected by the SABC as the main supplier of set-top boxes during the trial, though it's scheduled to be available to the public at the end of the year.

Digital migration is expected to set back government in the region of R3-billion in infrastructure costs — broadcasters will have to pay for their own content. SA is also the digital pioneer on the African continent with Kenya expected to follow suit shortly.

Furthermore, digital TV is a requirement for the 2010 World Cup, but only international viewers will be able to access the higher quality feed.

For those without DSTV who want access digital TV to see what the fuss is about, a digital TV trial run was conducted on 3 November and is scheduled to continue until June. The analogue signal will be turned off in three years, so start saving for the set-top box or TV!

Sars Commissioner Pravin Gordhan in December bemoaned the country's last-minute mentality when postponing the income tax deadline. The prospect of a digital changeover fraught with confusion, bearing in mind government's poor record of meeting rollout dates, has quite a few industry executives losing sleep. Television advertising accounted for more than R700-million in the first four months of 2008 and with media buyers needing to plan well in advance there is still much work to be done before any guarantees can be meted out.

November 2011 will see the analogue signal switched off, leaving no choice but to buy a set-top box or HDTV with digital tuner. The consequences are not all doom and gloom though.

Switching to digital signal would free up the analogue signal, so it can also be used for public and safety services by the government. And if the government chooses to sell the analogue signal, expect to see more channels in the future!