More than 13 million households are unprepared for the TV industry's historical transition to digital broadcasting a year from now on Feb. 17, 2009. According to Nielsen data released Friday, the 13 million households have TV sets that can only receive analog broadcasts. Another 6 million households have at least one TV set that will no longer work after the big switch.

If the switch was today, 10.1 percent of households would find themselves staring at a snowy screen; 16.8 percent would have at least one analog TV set that wouldn't work.

Between now and then, consumers have several choices: purchase a new digital set, purchase a converter box for the old set or subscribe to a subscription TV service.

Some segments of the population are more prepared than others. Overall, adults 55 years and older are more prepared than younger households. Only 9.4 percent of Adults 55+ are completely unready compared to 12.3 percent of those under 35.