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News reports say Consumers Union late today asked the heads of the U.S. Congressional committees with telecommunications oversight, as well as the current and future administrations, to consider delaying the February 17th transition from analog to digital TV because of all the money problems and coupon delays plaguing the program to equip consumers with the necessary converter boxes. In response, Rep. Ed Markey, chairman of the House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee, says the date may have to move.
Mess Over DTV May Mean Postponement
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There has been a HUGE mess in some of the smaller markets the digital switchover has been tested in over the last few months. It’s going to be bad when it happens to everyone.
Also…the networks were stupid to want this and lobby for it.
Now they will just be basic cable stations losing the ratings advatange broadcast has given them for decades over cable nets.
Do you realize how many rabbit ear sets are still in use in kitchens, by security guards, parking lot attendants, campers etc? Nationwide.
5 years after this switch a cable-net like USA, TBS or HBO will be the number one network in ratings. All they need now is the fresh content 24/7 programming that gets them there.
I work in a small local market and all of the stations here are already broadcasting over the air signal in both analog and digital. To my knowledge none of them have had any major problems with the transition.
As far as people who receive the over the air signal with an antenna, the digital signal is stronger and will travel farther with less deterioration than the old analog signal will, so people with rabbit ears will have a better picture than they have ever had.
As far as the networks losing out to the Cable guys in the ratings… they aren’t on the same ratings. Cable channels and syndicated shows are rated separately from the networks by Neilsen.
I work in a small local market and all of the stations here are already broadcasting over the air signal in both analog and digital. To my knowledge none of them have had any major problems with the transition.
As far as people who receive the over the air signal with an antenna, the digital signal is stronger and will travel farther with less deterioration than the old analog signal will, so people with rabbit ears will have a better picture than they have ever had.
As far as the networks losing out to the Cable guys in the ratings… they aren’t on the same ratings. Cable channels and syndicated shows are rated separately from the networks by Neilsen.
The HUGE mess would be if the government (once again) postponed the switch over. Listen, its going to painfully for a small few Americans who are basically technology illiterate. Beleive me – the same people who have not gotten their converter box by now – won’t have it months or years from now if they postone it – the don’t care, don’t know what’s going on and will never figure it out. The US adopted HD standards years ago – analog signals are not needed. The vast majority of Americans DO have cable or sat. It is NOT every Americans god given right to have fifteen TV sets with rabbit ears. The government was GIVING AWAY MONEY! You get a $40 coupon for a $50-60 box!. You can still watch your Oprah and Jerry Springer. The TV still works and it looks better (yes,digital HD signals even converted to SD for your old SD TV will look better). I do not see people complaining and wanting their old black and white TVs back – Color looks great, HD looks better – progress happens…tuff.
I work in a small local market and all of the stations here are already broadcasting over the air signal in both analog and digital. To my knowledge none of them have had any major problems with the transition.
As far as people who receive the over the air signal with an antenna, the digital signal is stronger and will travel farther with less deterioration than the old analog signal will, so people with rabbit ears will have a better picture than they have ever had.
As far as the networks losing out to the Cable guys in the ratings… they aren’t on the same ratings. Cable channels and syndicated shows are rated separately from the networks by Neilsen.
I’ve had three people tell me they’re thinking of dropping cable because they’re short of money & cable will have to go!
That means even more converter boxes will be necessary than they first believed.
They’re certainly not buying new TVs!
This has been a classic screwup from those wonderful people that think government can’t work & go out of their way to prove it can’t.
They’re called Republicans!
The coupons should have been able to be used for new digital tuner equipped TV sets, and two coupons should have been allowed for a single TV.
Why that wasn’t allowed has never been explained!
I’m only 9 miles from the transmitters, but I don’t get a good picture on all the digital channels & sometimes the signal just disappears in rain or snow storms.
I know that this was planned 25 years ago, but boy, they really fucked this up royally!