MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association wants everyone to know that just over a year from now, there will be no more analog signals from any television stations and that means old television sets will suddenly stop working -- unless owners take some action.

Broadcasters Work To Inform Of Digital TV Conversion

Feb. 17, 2009 is the day television is set to go all digital, and old analog signals will be turned off forever.

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) is working to get the word out, especially in certain parts of the state.

"I think we're seeing a lot of inner-city and a lot of the northern regions also where we're really going to have to focus," Wisconsin Broadcasters Association President Michelle Vetterkind said.

There are three ways to keep your signal once the switch is made, but they all cost money.

TV owners can subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company service provider, pay for a new HD television or buy a converter box, which will allow old television sets to keep working.

The boxes will cost between $50 and $70, but the federal government is offering some money to those who chose to buy the boxes.

"The federal government is now offering coupons for the converter box if you do not want to upgrade to a television with a digital tuner," Vetterkind said.

The coupons are worth $40, and everyone's eligible for up to two of them.

Nearly one-in-four television viewers in Wisconsin get their signal over-the-air -- no cable or satellite. That's the third highest total in the nation.

It means the WBA has its work cut out for it in trying to spread that message about the digital conversion.

"If we don't educate folks properly, some folks won't have television to watch the morning of Feb. 18," WBA Chairman Doug Kiel said.