MONTREAL - In one week people who watch television over the air will start getting a crisper, clearer picture as Canadian broadcasters switch from analog signals to digital transmission.

But not everyone is happy with the change to a decades-old technology that brings the world to their living room.

From his fourth floor apartment, Brian Fanning can see the TV transmitters atop Mount Royal, but next week they won't be doing him much good.

"On September the first there will be no more signal, all you will see is snow," said Fanning.

Unless he upgrades his television he will no longer be able to watch his favourite programs, because his older model TV and antenna are geared for a signal that will be turned off.

It's a move that has already swept across the United States, and despite many delays is finally coming to Canada.

Fanning just wishes the Canadian government, like their counterparts south of the border, was offering citizens a rebate on digital converters.

"Who can afford to buy a new TV, subscribe to cable or get a satellite dish and even the digital conversion box?" said Fanning.

The 90 percent of Canadians who watch TV through cable or satellite will not be affected, nor will those with newer televisions that have built-in digital tuners.

The remaining ten percent of Canadians have been deciding whether to cough up the cash for a new TV or a converter, and stores have had difficulty keeping converter boxes in stock.

"We have so many customers walking in, right now we just have a few of them," said Pierre Doyon of La Source. "Actually we have customers at the counter just waiting for this to finish to get them."

The boxes range in price from $30 to a few hundred dollars depending on whether they just work as a tuner or act as a VCR as well.

Those who have made the switch say the clarity of the picture is amazing.

"When you get your picture you're going to get a perfectly nice, beautiful, clear picture. Better than you will actually get even on cable or on satellite," said Dan Kowal, Technical Maintenance Supervisor for CTV Montreal.

When the analog transmitters are turned off, the CRTC plans to give the free room on the electromagnetic spectrum to cell phone companies.