Early converter buyers get more channels now

As consumers start hooking up converter boxes in anticipation of the nation's big switch to digital TV next month, one thing is becoming crystal clear: TV pictures. People who switch to digital TV now are getting a nice surprise in the form of clearer pictures and more channels. The improvements owe to the nature of digital TV technology, which has superior characteristics compared with traditional analog technology. About 93% of the USA's 1,759 full-power TV stations are already broadcasting in digital, the National Association of Broadcasters says. The upshot: Many consumers who hook up converter boxes now can enjoy the benefits of digital TV right away, says Shermaze Ingram, an NAB spokeswoman.