In this coming February all things change regarding TV as we go to all Digital
And 1080P - does our Stereo systems have to be able to mate with that
1080P when connected to a TV for sound

Thanks
Ron Snyder

That's a somewhat vague inquiry, as we don't know what connections your equipment features.

Fist of all, the transition is to digital television (DTV), some of which is standard definition TV (SDTV) 480I or 480P. It's also quite common for High Definition TV (HDTV) to be distributed in 720P or 1080I formats. Bandwidth issues make 1080P broadcasts unusual although there's some potential that interlaced ( signified by the I on the end) programs could be converted to progressive (signified by the P at the end) format by a cable converter or satellite receiver.

The analog TV used for the past half century in the US uses the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) format, while DTV is already using the American Television Standards Committee (ATSC) format.

If you use a cable from the "Audio Out" jacks on your TV to the "Line In" jack on your stereo the digital TV transition shouldn't make any difference in how you use the stereo in combination with the TV. If you use an antenna to receive NTSC signals directly from the local bradcaster(s) (not receiving signals from a cable company or digital satellite service) you will need a digital to analog converter OR a TV with a QAM compatible ATSC tuner.

If you use a digital to analog converter (ATSC to NTSC) that qualifies for the US government subsidy program you should be able to connect the Left and Right audio outputs (red and white jacks) from the converter to the "Line in" jacks on your stereo and the yellow composite NTSC video output jack on the converter to the matching yellow video input on the TV.

If you use a cable converter or digital satellite receiver with an analog only TV you should be able to use connections similar to those I described above for the digital to analog converter. Check your programming provider's web site, as they may have posted connection diagrams.

Many cable converters and satellite receivers have component video outputs for HDTV which are usually paired with stereo audio connections like those used with composite video. Again you can connect the video cables to the TV and the stereo cables to the stereo's line input jacks.

With HDMI connections you might need to be using a TV with audio output jacks, as some converters or receivers might not be configured to transmit audio through those analog outputs while forwarding digital video through the HDMI cable.

Many user manuals include wiring diagrams for multiple combinations of equipment. Some manufacturers provide downloadable manuals on their web sites for the convenience of customers who have misplaced the hard copies that came with their equipment.