February of 2009 television stations will stop broadcasting in standard definition and begin broadcasting exclusively in high definition. That means your standard definition television will no longer be able to pick up broadcast signals through the air with an antenna. You’ll either need a converter or a high-def television to receive your local channels. From now until then, local affiliates will be bombarding their airways with stories, packages and information about the switch—they will do everything they can to prepare you. If on that day, when they cease broadcasting in standard definition, you call the station asking what’s wrong with your television set and why you can pick up their signal—you are old. That is the text book definition of old.
