Digital vs analog TV
p2pnet news | TV:- Digital television will arrive in America by 2009, it’s suggested, and when that happens, what’ll happen to all the old analogue televisions?
Will millions of people will be forced to dump their old sets and if they don’t choose to do that, will they be unable to receive DTV programming?
The cable TV industry promises one way or another, “all subscribers will still be able to tune in their favorite shows when broadcasters shift to digital-only transmission,” says Associated Press.
But, “Seeking more than a promise, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin wants commissioners to require cable companies to provide that service,” It is a story, going on:
“Unless the commission acts, some cable customers may actually be harmed by the transition and lose the ability to view some of these channels,” he told AP.
Slated to meet today, the FCC has been “split over such a proposal in the past but may be moving toward a compromise,” story says, going on that as things stand, cable TV operators receive both broadcast analog and digital feeds but come Februrary 18, 2009,” broadcasters must stop supplying the analog signal”.
AP continues:
“Last week, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association launched a $200 million advertising campaign to assure customers that the shift won’t affect them. “Every TV set you have that’s hooked up to cable will work just fine,” happy customers intone in a TV spot.
“What the commercials do not say is how the industry is going to manage the transition, something that concerns Gene Kimmelman, federal affairs chief for Consumers Union (CU). “It is astounding that they’re telling their customers ‘don’t worry, we’re taking care of you’ without telling them at what price.”
The government should have an oversight role, AP has CU’s Gene Kimmelman, declaring:
“I think there are some sticks that can be placed over their heads to try to ensure that they don’t take advantage of their customers.”
Also See:
by 2009 – Digital TV in US by 2009, December 20, 2005
Associated Press – FCC Chair Promotes Post-Digital TV Rule, September 11, 2007
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September 11th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Sounds like a catastrophe in the making.
This is the same problem that is looming in Japan, where I live. Japan is to take the dive into the Digital sea, drowning out all traditional analogue broadcasting in 2011. The big difference between Japan and the US, is that the cable TV is STILL a minority, thus if the schedule continues as scheduled, a significant number of people would be rendered unable to watch TV, mainly those from lower class and elderly people.
Those who have a TV with Video-in capability “can” watch TV by buying a digital tuner, what right now the cheapest tuners range from US$120 to US$400 just to see the channels, and also will be required to setup and reallign their airial (antenna) to catch the signal. Sure the government as said that they would help subsitize low income people, so that they can BUY the tuner for much less (I am sure that a familty just getting by is going to have the extra cash to buy a digital tuner for their 20 year old TV set).
Which brings up another problem, reception.
When it comes to television reception, Japan is oftem plagued with many obisticals. The biggest comming from the crowded cities. At present, many houses whose reception is blocked by tall buildings, are liked up to the building’s arial, so they can recieve a decent reception. Untill now, this arial and the boosters have been paid for by the building owners, but many of the owers are stating that when they convert to digital, they will no longer be able to keep up this service, and if the people want to receive a signal, they will need to buy their own arial, or get cable TV.
Like wise, in areas where local trains had caused interferrence, and thus the train companies built and kept up a local high power signal receiving station, has stated that they will not upgrade the system to support digital TV because it was not their fault that TV is going to Digital.
Considering that my mother in law has trouble even figuring out how to change channels while using the VCR, I wonder how well people are going to be able to cope with a completely new system to watch TV.
I can’t help but say that there will be major problems when each country switches to digital, unless some people really sit down and consider the consiquences.
Just my Two Cents