Any analog TV signals that haven't shut down already will do so within the next three months. If you have a digital TV, cable, or satellite, you need not worry, and worst case, you'll need a digital converter box if you don't already have one. But if you'd like to save some money, we have some suggestions where to get your content.

We used to use Dish Network, but since they kept sending us the same replacement DVR model that had "known problems," we got tired of paying for lousy service and decided to save money by getting our TV content from alternative sources to save some money. We discussed these options in our DTV Transition show, but below, you'll find more details and links on the discussion.

Digital Over the Air

Because our house is roughly 50 miles from our local stations' towers, we needed to find a decent antenna to pull them in. Note that the satellite providers do offer package deals with just your local stations, but you'll pay at least $10/month for basic channels, plus at least $5 for HD if you have an HDTV, plus you won't get the stations' bonus channels (the .1, .2, etc. networks that offer additional programming).

Antenna

If you plan to or currently get your TV via a traditional antenna, you'll need some information before buying. First, you'll need an antenna. Your distance from your towers will determine determine what antenna you need. We still have problems, because we're unable to mount our antenna outside, but some family members have powered rabbit ears and get stations from two different cities in opposite directions, so we recommend starting inexpensive and working your way up, buying from stores that will allow you to easily return those that don't work for you.

UHF/VHF

As our NBC affiliate (VHF) prepared to switch off their analog signal, we could see that we were getting the signal clear and strong, but when they finally threw the switch to turn off analog completely, we lost the signal altogether until our 6th antenna. What happened? Before they switched, their digital signal was actually being broadcast in the UHF band, and the TV was somehow seeing it as the correct VHF channel, as it should be, but when they dropped that signal to switch to the correct VHF band, we found out that our antenna didn't do a decent job of pulling in VHF, so before you spend a lot of money on an antenna, you may want to contact any of your local stations that haven't switched over to all digital to see whether they'll be using a different frequency afterward.

IPTV

The Internet offers more video than ever before, not just limited to video sharing sites like YouTube. Most networks offer some or all of their programming online, and we've found that we actually prefer getting it online, since it has fewer ads and more choices. Instead of waiting for content to become available, just browse through the thousands of movies and shows already waiting for your view.

Hulu

Hulu.com, besides producing a hilarious Super Bowl ad, offers the largest database of online television on the Internet. Not only can you search their collection, but the collections hosted by all of the major network and cable channels. They feature current shows as well as old favorites, with hundreds of family-friendly shows, my personal favorite being ALF. If you have a slow DSL connection, start the show, pause, and wait for the cache to fill. This head start should keep you from getting stuttering pauses. If it hesitates again, pause again to fill the cache again.

Video Podcasts

TV doesn't offer the only episodic content for families, although video podcasts offer very few family-oriented shows. Most of the animated series are inappropriate for kids and geared toward college-aged boys, but a few series will interest your kids:

• Animal Rescue Force Friends
• FamilyFun TV
• Doctor Floyd's Video Podcast
• Plus a bunch of others from Nickelodeon, PBS, and Disney, although they're mostly just a collection of clips from their shows

(If you have other video podcast suggestions, leave a comment below!)

Netflix

Netflix is best known for mailing DVD's to its subscribers. Given the vast variety of movies, documentaries, and TV seasons, this alone is generally a better deal than your local rental store, but we really find value in its instant watch feature. Subscribers can watch about 20% of their available shows/movies instantly, so if your discs are both in the mail, you can still watch something on your computer or TV. Using an Xbox 360, TiVo, or other device, you can create a list of movies and shows you'd like to watch instantly, then just scroll through the list. If you have a slow internet connection (DSL), you won't be able to get HD video via instant watch, and if your connection is slow enough, the video can be downright blurry, but because the Netflix software tests your speed, you should never get choppy pauses. We use both the TiVo and Xbox 360 for this purpose, but even though the TiVo is more convenient, since most of our other shows are already there, the Xbox 360 has a more attractive interface and shows what percentage of each show you have viewed, so we use the Xbox 360 for Netflix Instant Watch.

TiVo

We bought a TiVo to work with our antenna, and the two work great together. In addition to the aforementioned Netflix integration, basic DVR functions, and recording suggested shows based on what shows you like, watch YouTube, and more. If you don't have an HDTV but want to buy a TiVo, buy an HD TiVo right away--it'll work with your SDTV, and when you're ready to upgrade to an HDTV, you'll be all set. We also recommend the Western Digital My DVR Expander Hard Drive which expands your storage capability considerably (You can use other eSATA HD's, but this one is the best price we've seen for that capacity, so it was a no-brainer for us.), and if you have a wireless home network, the TiVo Wireless G USB Network Adapter.

Xbox 360

Besides the Netflix functionality (and games, obviously), the Xbox 360 can play DVD's and stream video from your computer via your home network. The instructions give details for Windows users, and Mac users can check out our complete Xbox 360/Macintosh guide, allowing you to watch any of the movies on your computer and in your iTunes library. Note that you can't stream copy-protected video this way, like movies you download from iTunes, but see below for a solution to this.

We also recommend the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote if you plan to use the Xbox 360 for video viewing.

AppleTV

AppleTV deserves a mention, but just barely. We recommend, instead of an AppleTV, that you just buy an Xbox 360 Arcade, saving about $25 and getting much more functionality. The only people who should get an AppleTV would be those with a lot of copy-protected video bought from the iTunes store that is stored on a desktop computer in a different room, and to those people, I recommend looking into Netflix.

Overlays

If you plan to watch a lot of online video from Hulu and other sources, you may want to check out an application that gives a better interface, the best of which appears to be Boxee. Besides giving a more intuitive interface than a web browser, Boxee also incorporates a social network-like option to share your favorite shows and recommendations with others.

The Bigger Screen: Computer to TV

We've mentioned watching TV over the Internet, but if you don't want to watch on a tiny screen, you can connect your computer to your TV directly and "mirror" the video. If you have an HDTV or other TV with a VGA port, you can connect your computer directly. Some computers (Macs, especially) will need an adapter, and if your SDTV lacks a VGA port, you'll need a VGA to RCA adapter.

Since you won't likely want to keep running over to the computer to pause and change shows, we recommend getting a wireless mouse to use as a remote. (Yes, we're just lazy that way!)

Handheld Video Out

If you have an iPod or other portable video device, you may also be able to connect it directly to your TV for viewing. The Xbox 360 can read your iPod or Zune via USB using the sync cable that came with the handheld device. You can also use a video-out cable, but you'll have to check with the manufacturer for the necessary cable. (Hint: Non-"Touch" iPods can use a standard 1/8" mini-plug-to-RCA cord like those included with most camcorders--just swap the yellow and red plugs.) This provides, incidentally, another solution to make an AppleTV unnecessary, although it requires a cord.

What's Right for Your Family?

By getting some additional equipment, you'll have a larger up-front cost, but consider what you're paying your cable or satellite provider and weigh the costs. You may just be able to drop the monthly fee and get more available video.

Let us know what solutions you've found by leaving a comment below!