(KMOV)- The holiday season is here and some of people may have a television on their shopping list.

Right now television is broadcast with a digital or an analog signal.

But in a little over a year that will all change when everyone switches to digital.

What does that mean?

If people don't have a receiver now, before that deadline they’ll have to buy one.

The nationwide digital switch is slated for February of 2009.

The most important thing to know is if people want to watch TV they’ll have to use a receiver.

If people subscribe to services like Dish Network or Direct TV, their system comes with a receiver and should convert the signal.

Lastly, if people buy an HDTV, Bud Warden with Sony said the good news is that the digital receiver is already built in.