The digital TV transition is the switchover from a mix of analog and digital programming, to exclusively digital broadcasting of full-power TV stations. The DTV transition in the USA will be completed on February 17, 2009, as set by Congress. At that point all full-power TV stations will stop broadcasting on their analog channels. In doing so the spectrum that they use for analog broadcasting will be put to more efficient use in digital broadcasting.

The transition is taking place as digital TV is a much more efficient use of the broadcast spectrum. Digital TV will free up the airwaves for new services that could not be done with analog TV. DTV will provide a higher quality image and sound, more channels due to the freed up space, and even high definition TV (HDTV) to those with HDTV television sets.