“In less than 14 months, any traditional television set still connected to its antenna will receive nothing but static, as the broadcasting industry cuts over completely to its new digital frequencies.”
Did you know this? Does it matter to you (that is, do you have any analog TVs without cable)?
I don’t have an analog TV, but it matters to me. It’s just wrong.
I guess it means I can get rid of the analog TV that I don’t watch anyway. What a waste of time TV is!
I’m still a rabbit ears user. I think we get about 8 channels, which is more than enough.
I probably won’t notice the change for months anyway, since the last thing I watched was the 2006 winter Olympics.
The next thing I’ll watch will probably be the 2008 Olympics.
I read somewhere there will be a digital to analog converter available. I’ll wait until I can get one cheap at a yard sale, in time for the 2012 Olympics.
NewMexiKen is a rabbit ears antenna only user, though I use it for the high definition signals.
The folks that will suffer are not represented by anyone reading this. There are many older/poorer people in rural America who watch local news and weather on their analog sets. Apparently, they are not represented by Congress either, otherwise Corporate Telcom would be subsidizing converter purchases.
Well the taxpayers will subsidize each other.
No, I didn’t know this and no it doesn’t matter to me personally, however…
Since television is the heroin of the masses (or whatever would be classified as the modern day equivalent of opium), this is a huge deal. What are the networks justification for bumping 17% of the U.S. population (~51 million people)? Of course maybe we should be more concerned about the 21% (~63 million) who said they had at least one TV that this would affect. Why do they get to have two of these $40 coupons?
Do we as a nation (and I mean specifically those 51 MILLION) have the character to “live” without television? I know this pales in comparison to what is going on in Pakistan, but when basketball teams have victories and riots ensue, how can we expect anything but an increase in crime as a result of this?
I’m guessing Rob isn’t a big “Dancing With the Stars” fan.
This change is required by the FCC (and legislation). It’s not something the TV stations or networks did on their own, though they may welcome the efficiencies. Currently most stations broadcast two signals — analog and digital.
It’s interesting to me that here in ABQ you cannot watch the CBS affiliate in HD on the near-monopoly cable system (they who must not be named). If you want CBS in high def you need an antenna (or DirecTV I guess).
Here’s info on the $40 coupons (which become available January 1):
NTIA: Digital TV Transition and Public Safety
I can’t help thinking about all the people who have a variety of physical and mental disabilities who will be cut off by this change. Many people who are still using analog TVs are elderly and/or poor, and a lot of them will not have the wherewithal to apply for coupons or set up the little box they will need to convert the signal (no matter how simple it may be). There are far more of these people than most folks ever imagine, and they are the very ones who can least afford to be cut off from what is, in some cases, the only “outside” social/informational contact they have.
I guess they will have to listen to Rush!
Debby, if what you say is true, what would you do about it? New TVs for all? Hold back HD technology? Make the TV stations broadcast two signals indefinitely (using more electricity)? Every country in the world will be making this change.
BTW, the elderly are among the least “poor” of America’s age groups thanks to Social Security and Medicare.
Well, I don’t really know what can be done, I just hope that a serious effort will be made to help these folks. In my years of social services work I came across a lot of elderly people who barely made ends meet, even if the elderly class in general is well off. (Social Security checks can be woefully small if you didn’t earn a lot during your working years.) Same for the people with dibilitating mental conditions (including agoraphobia and severe depression). Some of them can’t even get qualified for normal benefits, because they can’t manage all the convoluted paperwork, documentation, and appointments that are required of them.
Thousands of these Americans fall through the cracks, and it’s a sad comment on our society that we let them. I was merely expressing the ardent hope that this won’t be another one of those times. I hope there will be a concerted effort made to reach out to these folks when the boxes become necessary, including in rural areas where poverty is often more prevalent, and antennas more common.
I would certainly volunteer to help with such a program, if there were one.