Yes, there’s free TV. But there’s also cable.

Last year, we all made the shift to digital. With the Digital Transition and Safety Act of 2005, all television stations had to stop analog broadcasts by February 17, 2009.

Despite a slight delay, analog cable officially ended on June 12, 2009.

But why was there a need to shift from analog to digital? First, let us explain to you how cable TV works.

Cable TV works when television networks beam signals to cable companies for distribution among their subscribers.

In the old case of analog cable, every channel change would send a signal to a switch that singled out the selected channel and then transmitted its signal back to the house.

Digital cable, on the other hand, sends all the available channels to the house as compressed data. This meant that changing the channel decompresses the chosen channel’s signal for display on your television screen.

Still with us?

The space saved by compressing the data gives digital cable far better quality and sound as well as a more efficient way for cable operators to harness interactive features such as parental controls, interactive program guides, HDTV (High Definition TV), and programs on demand.

In a nutshell, digital cable allows you greater control over what, when, and how you watch television.

The technology has changed and our cable experience has changed along with it. If you haven’t noticed it already, you probably are experiencing improved picture and sound quality.

Tired of your usual free channels? Try getting cable for a change. Digital cable subscriptions are available from Comcast, Mediacom, Charter, Insight, Cox, Suddenlink, and Time Warner. Find out the best cable deals in your area by entering your address at the search box above.

Or if you still have more questions, drop us a line or participate in our forums. We'd love to hear what you think!