Working in television for the U.S. market, I remember in the mid-90's, hearing everyone talk about tv "going digital" in the next 5 years - everyone will have a digital set and for those who cannot afford it, converters! Everything will be shot in digital only...The switch is just starting to happen now, many years later. According to the following article, U.S. is next, with Canada soon to follow...
"There is, however, a stodgy minority that has stuck by their old television sets and rabbit-ear antennae. These people, along with the unlucky few living outside the range of the new digital transmitters, woke up today to find themselves in a world without television."
- CBC News