With the end of analog TV broadcasts now a year away—February 17, 2009, to be precise—debate is intensifying on the readiness of viewers and broadcasters for the upcoming transition to all-digital TV.

Two polls released in recent weeks suggest that a majority of consumers are aware of the TV transition. A poll from Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, reported 64 percent awareness, where one from the National Association of Broadcasters, the industry group that represents television stations, cited 78 percent awareness.

But being aware of the transition doesn't necessarily mean you understand its implications. The CU study found rampant misunderstanding among consumers about what the transition means for them—misunderstandings that CU fears could result in some households buying equipment they don't need. In an appearance this week before the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, Chris Murray, Senior Counsel for Consumers Union, warned that "along with the technical complexities of the transition are strong incentives by a variety of market players for 'digital upsell' to consumers," which could result in pressure to buy everything from more expensive cable service to a new HDTV set. "For vulnerable populations—such as the elderly or low-income households—the potential for being misled, intentionally or unintentionally, is significant," Murray said.

Meantime, another study by Centris, a market research firm, asserts that many households that now get their analog TV programming via set-top rabbit-ear antennas may have to upgrade to costly roof antennas in order to receive that same programming via digital signals. The study has prompted a whirlwind of commentary, including comments from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin.

We'll continue to offer news and advice on the transition on this blog and on ConsumerReports.org. In the coming days, for example, we'll be posting updates on the availability of analog-to-digital converter boxes and of the coupons the federal government is issuing to offset their cost. We'll also publish the results of tests on one of the first boxes to hit the market.

—Paul Reynolds