Analog TV cutoff delayed to June 12

[imcarthur]

Source: Twice Magazine

Due to lack of funding, expired DTV box coupons etc etc.

Ian

[Jim Richards]

pity

[Rearden]

[Porsche-O-Phile]

God forbid America have to live without its idiot boxes for a few weeks. Society would just grind to a halt.

[KFC911]

I personally don't know of anyone who still recieves an analog signal OTA (and haven't for years). I have trouble believing that this is the big deal that it's being made out to be, but why am I not surprised

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I bought a converter box about a month ago (I dumped my pay TV a while back - fkin rip-off). I think I've used it twice. The picture quality is nice, the programming still sucks.

TV is a dying medium; I think it's honestly just being propped up by the gov't because it's an effective "opiate of the mASSES". How people can honestly sit for hours watching that drivel is totally unfathomable to me.

This whole thing is just stupid anyway. It's really just a handout to the Chinese if you think about it.

[The Gaijin]

Good the see the dems are moving forward with "hope and change". Looking out for the regular Joes I see...

[Heel n Toe]

Our local ABC affiliate announced last night they're going ahead with the changeover on the 17th. Any stations in other areas doing this?

I wonder if the Feds will send a SWAT team to make 'em wait.

[Schumi]

gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

We just cannot further technology at all. Catering to idiots.

What we consider 'High Definition' was actually broadcast technology developed in the early 90's. It could have easily been implemented as digital standard definition TV by 1995 (which is what just got delayed, again) and should have been full widescreen HD by 2001. But no.


In the Japanese market there are companies going forth with Ultra-Definition broadcasting. 4096 lines of resolution. They are implementing the infrastructure now, even though everyone just has normal HDTV's, that downscale the picture. Then when people buy new tv's it will just automatically work.

[Superman]

I wonder if you guys have noticed that your tax dollars are going toward coupons so people can prepare for a change that will save (communication) corporations money. Those people don't need digital TV, it's the corporations that want it. And you're paying.

[RWebb]

Bingo!

[jyl]

Originally Posted by Superman

I wonder if you guys have noticed that your tax dollars are going toward coupons so people can prepare for a change that will save (communication) corporations money. Those people don't need digital TV, it's the corporations that want it. And you're paying.

This is one time where no outrage is justified.

The 700MHz spectrum being vacated by analog broadcast TV was auctioned off by the govt for $20 billion. The companies who will use that spectrum paid very handsomely indeed for it.

A relatively small part of that revenue (about $1.5BN?) is being used to relocate the consumers who are being displaced from that spectrum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/700_Mhz_wireless_spectrum_auctionhttp://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/03/19/daily.4/

[porsche4life]

We will be affected by the transition it we are ready. The only local station that isn't ready in digital is fox and I try to avoid most fox stuff anyways

[jyl]

Personally I do not think the analog cutoff should have been extended. The remaining people who use analog broadcast TV and haven't made arrangements to switch over to digital are, for the most part, really unsophisticated consumers who have pretty much ignored the coming cutoff. I think it will take a blank TV screen to get them to make the switch.

[tobster1911]

Originally Posted by Superman

I wonder if you guys have noticed that your tax dollars are going toward coupons so people can prepare for a change that will save (communication) corporations money. Those people don't need digital TV, it's the corporations that want it. And you're paying.

WRONG. WRONG.

You do realize that this is about making more efficient use the RF spectrum right. You also realize that the analog bandwidth was/is slated for development of a true high-speed wireless infrastructure in part. (Think about a wireless internet as pervasive as cell phone coverage. True high-speed not just 3G or other cell phone card type approach. Speeds just like your wireless router at home.)


Yeah it is just evil corporations screwing over the little guys.

[tobster1911]

Originally Posted by jyl

personally i do not think the analog cutoff should have been extended. The remaining people who use analog broadcast tv and haven't made arrangements to switch over to digital are, for the most part, really unsophisticated consumers who have pretty much ignored the coming cutoff. I think it will take a blank tv screen to get them to make the switch.

+1.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by KC911

I personally don't know of anyone who still recieves an analog signal OTA (and haven't for years). I have trouble believing that this is the big deal that it's being made out to be, but why am I not surprised

I still get my tv from my antenna..... I have no interest in paying for satellite and cable is not available in many rural areas and probably never will be. I presently get the same local NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and PBS stations that I have been watching for free for over twenty years. Somehow I have survived without MTV and ESPN for all these years. I applied for my coupons a few months ago, but have yet to recieve them. If I have to pay retail for multiple convertor boxes I will, but my life does not revolve around watching 100+ television stations and the govt is forcing this on us.... I have no problem with the govt giving me a tiny bit of their profit from this mandatory change over. I am quite happy about the delay. The stations I watch all broadcasting in both digital and analog already, so I can't see how those who made the switch with new overpriced/oversized tvs will suffer due to the delay.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by jyl

unsophisticated consumers

[Superman]

Originally Posted by tobster1911

WRONG. WRONG.

You do realize that this is about making more efficient use the RF spectrum right. You also realize that the analog bandwidth was/is slated for development of a true high-speed wireless infrastructure in part. (Think about a wireless internet as pervasive as cell phone coverage. True high-speed not just 3G or other cell phone card type approach. Speeds just like your wireless router at home.)


Yeah it is just evil corporations screwing over the little guys.

It's about money. Corporations are going to make more money. Selling new services at this section of the RF spectrum. Selling new TV's to folks whose existing TV's are useless. It's a win/win......for corporations. It's all about money. It's always about money.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

"The remaining people who use analog broadcast TV and haven't made arrangements to switch over to digital are, for the most part, really unsophisticated consumers who have pretty much ignored the coming cutoff"

I assume you have made arrangements to switch over - either get the coupon or simply pay $100 retail for the box.