Buying an HDTV for the big game?

It's the weekend before the Super Bowl, and that means a lot of people will spend the weekend shopping for a new television.

It's amazing how many people buy a new TV to watch the game. The Retail Advertising and Marketing Association says about 2.5 million households will get a new TV before Super Sunday. That estimate is an increase of nearly 50 percent from last year.

We don't know how many of these sets will be hi-definition, but electronics retailers report double-digit increases in sales of these high-end sets in recent months. The Consumer Electronics Association of America estimates that sports fans buy almost 60 percent of all HDTVs. In a study last month, the group found the Super Bowl is responsible for 13 percent of sales, the most of any sporting event.

These new HDTV sets are not cheap, and for shoppers not familiar with the new technology or lingo, it can be a totally confusing experience.

If you want an HDTV, you need to make sure you're getting an HDTV. While all hi-definition TV's are digital, every digital TV is not high-definition. So you need to make sure you know what you're buying.

What do I need to buy? You can buy a integrated HDTV set with a built-in tuner or a monitor (without a tuner) that will need a stand-alone tuner, HDTV cable box or an HDTV satellite receiver.

If you plan to use an antenna to get your HD signals through the air, you’ll want a tuner. If you have cable or satellite service, you can save money by getting a monitor without a tuner.

Do I have to do anything other than plug in the set to get those beautiful HD pictures? Yes. If you're on cable or have satellite service, you'll need to sign up and pay for HD service, and get a new digital receiver box. So you need to plan ahead. You can't decide on Sunday to get digital service.