Digital TV transition delay
p2pnet news view | TV:- This clip from the excellent visual comment on the US transition from analogue to digital TV says it all.
It’s on Top Gear Electronics which says because there are 1.4 million US households on the “underfunded digital converter voucher waiting list,” in a bill that’s “expected to pass unanimously,” a senate proposal could delay the DTV switchover to June 12.
“Rattled by the recession, many consumers facing the upcoming switch to digital television are taking the cheap way out – buying inexpensive converter boxes instead of new digital TV sets,” said the Wall Street Journal recently.
The US government is running out of money to, “subsidize the purchase of the converters,” said the story.
The bill doesn’t look to provide more funding for DTV vouchers, “it’s more a slam on the brakes maneuver to buy everyone some time,” says Top Gear, adding:
“The most important point about the bill, however, is that it leaves broadcasters the ‘option’ to still make the DTV switch on February 17th.”
(Thanks, Jorge)
Top Gear Electronics – Senate Expected to Delay DTV Transition to June 12th on Optional Basis [Digital Transition], January 23, 2009
Wall Street Journal – The Switch to Digital TV Hits a Snag, January 6, 2009
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January 23rd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
While it gives my VCRs a few more months of life so go ahead, heck wait till 2011. I havn’t been able to find a good ATSC recorder here, and few electronic stores in the cold north even recognize what a converter box is. Best Price $100, hopefully one of the higher end boxes and not a rippoff. One store “promises” of $60 (But I’d never believe said store anyways, the other 1/2 of the employees will tell you they aren’t getting them)
February 4th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Delaying the transition to digital broadcasting for major stations from February 17 to June 12th, 2009 is ridiculous. Listen, the U.S. has tried to cut over to digital broadcasting (and also usher in High Defginition TV along the way, too) for more than a decade.
The February 17th date is actually the third major attempt at a switchover; and it looked as if it was going as well as possible. The hardware is actually available in the marketplace, the service providers are ready to go, content is being produced/distribuuted digitally and with High Definition in mind, the awareness campaigns and government subsides were rolling, and pilot programs were conducted.
So, another four months is not going to help those people who are already unprepared; these types of folks would be unprepared no matter what a date might be. The House and Senate should just let the February 17th date stand, and let local stations and service providers mitigate any small percentage of problem veiwership afterward.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
For crying out loud. It’s just TV. It’s not refrigerators or something else that’s necessary. Check a book out of the library. Dust off a board game.