Digital TV doesn't have to break the bank. In fact, there are affordable options that can keep an analog TV running or give you new entertainment options on a budget with a low-cost digital TV.

Now that the final transition to all-digital TV broadcasting is set for June 12, it's important to make sure you're ready well ahead of the final deadline. There are full-power TV stations throughout the country who have already voluntarily switched off their analog signals, and you may live in a market that's already gone "all digital."

Hundreds of smaller community broadcast stations may not switch to digital for some time, so you may be watching a favorite channel that's still in analog.  Fortunately, the converter boxes now being sold feature "analog pass-through" capability so that you can use the same wiring connections to watch over-the-air analog or digital channels (typically, just turning the digital converter box "off" will allow analog signals to pass through the box to be tuned by the TV's existing tuner for reception of low-power community broadcast stations).  Even if your converter box won't allow analog pass-through, some consumer electronics retailers are selling conversion kits that allow you to easily wire your antenna, converter and TV to continue receiving analog signals.

Another great option for viewers is a low-cost digital TV set. A small digital TV ideal for the kitchen or the bedroom can be found for under $120, with a traditional picture tube. For a little more, you can easily find combination products such as a small-screen tube television with DVD player and built-in digital TV reception capability for less than $135. Under-cabinet drop-down screens ideal for the kitchen start at about $240, including a built-in DVD player and AM/FM clock radio. And retailers are now selling high-definition digital TV sets with LCD flat screens as small as 19-inches for under $250. 

With all these options available, there is no reason not to make the transition now!