Much of what consumers are learning about the move to digital broadcasting is just plain wrong and could end up costing them money, according to a Consumers Union survey.

Among consumers who are aware of the transition, 58 percent believe all televisions will need a converter box to function. Forty-eight percent believe that only digital televisions will work after 2009, and 24 percent believe they will need to throw away all of their analog television sets.

All of these beliefs are false.

"Confusion about the digital television transition will cost consumers a lot of money for equipment they may not want or need," stated Joel Kelsey, policy analyst for the Consumers Union.

Starting February 18, 2009, television stations in the U.S. will turn off their old-technology analog signals and broadcast only in a digital format, potentially leaving millions of televisions displaying nothing but snow.

The great majority of consumers -- anyone whose television is hooked up to a cable or satellite service or owns a digital set -- will not be affected. Anyone who owns an older television that gets its signal via antenna, (whether rabbit ears or outdoor antenna) however, will need a converter box, which the government will help pay for.

The government has allocated $1.5 billion to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to pay for coupons that will subsidize the cost of converter boxes. Each household is eligible for two coupons, regardless of whether they have pay-television service or not. To request a coupon, consumers can apply online at www.dtv2009.gov or call the 24-hour hotline, 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).