Finally saw the "digital TV" commercial.
 

They claimed the conversion was happening because digital is so much better quality, or something along similar lines. Right, I'm sure that's what it's all about. #%$^&!!!! Are these commercials local, or is it the same one all over the country?

haven't seen any yet here.

Frankly, i don't mind watching digital on my old roundie sets. reception here sucks (lotsa multipath), and I don't feel like throwing 50+ dollars a month at the cable company for stuff I'm not going to watch anyways. Digital is alot more watchable due to less vulnerability to multipath and signal noise.

So give me a rooftop antenna and an ATSC tuner. As long as the picture I'm viewing is on a classic set I'm fine with that. If you're watching DVDs on your vintage sets, technically you're already watching digital tv ;)

I'm starting to see the commercial here in MS. It's a female voice saying how much better digital TV is and it's the law for US stations to switch to digital by 2/17/09 and your TV may not be ready for the switch and for more information, go to "blah, blah, blah."

I just had to set a friend, who is on satellite, straight because his wife thought that TV's were going all digital in 2008 and that they would have to buy a new digital flat screen because their old Quasar console from 1980 would no longer be able to be used. I think she saw some kind of commercial on TV and also heard some people talking. I told him that he would have to have a OTA set top box if he planned to watch local broadcasting after 2/17/09 and his satellite service should continue as is and there was no need to buy a new TV. I'm also learning of similar confusion from other citizens concerning this subject. It's going to be really bad when D-day gets here!

The NAB provided a spot. That's what I'm airing. We can make local spots as well, but not many have as yet. We're airing them in an effort to prevent the government from mandating that we air them agressively. Right now we still have control over the schedules.

They sent us a new spot right before the holidays. We'll probably do some locally produced spots after the new year.

Take care,

Ed

"In fact, it's so much better, law says we have to switch by..."

Misleading vocabulary.

The commercial I saw is of the FCC chairman saying things will change. Trust me, the whole reason for the switch is so the FCC can make some money on the unused spectrum. I don't watch local programming unless it's the special stuff like parades, specials, concerts, and a few shows on PBS. Most TV is digital at the head ends, and the fact you watch your dvds or satellite TV through an RF modulator still preserves the nostalgia.

Jonathan

I saw the ad on cable TV, and Ironically, all the cable channels froze up right after the ad spot ended. For about three hours all the programs were just showing a still shot where the show froze up. I hope this isn't a glimpse into what is to come with this "progressive technology.

What about portable, battery operated sets like those used during hurricanes? Is there going to be a battery operated converter for these? Or will all of those cute little TV/radio/flashlight/battery pack/sex toy combos going to have to be replaced so we can get a radar picture when we are "hunkering down" in a storm with no electrical power.

The going to HD commercial has been running here for about 2 months. All TV reception will be digital in Feb 09. Retail outlets for HDTV's are of course promoting this. Was told at BB, That the big 3 HD companies(Panasonic,Samsung,Pioneer) will be adding 10-25% to the current cost of there product, By summer 08. Also, The digital to analog converter, Is not working out well, According to Comcast. Anyone still with standard def, Make your move, Fast.:yes:

This would surprise me. If they tried to do that they would just lose market share. There are lots of folks selling HD TVs. I suspect we'd see a lot more Vizio sets if they did that.

I am almost certain that they will continue to get cheaper and cheaper. The last TV I bought cost $99. I'm not replacing it with one that costs $500. There are a world of folks out there who simply won't buy TVs until they get cheaper. That is a cosumer base, and I'm sure someone will make products for them. As people buy more and more sets, the prices will get cheaper and cheaper.

I've looked recently and they're still too expensive for me. I'll keep using what I have until they come down a good bit more.

Take care,

Ed

I hope your right, While Xmas shopping, It seemed like cost leveled out finally. I do think companies will take advantage once the clock strikes 12 as 09 approches. Even DishTV is saying, "Switch while still affordable". Not a good sign!

Which translates to "Switch before prices plummet so we can lock you into a contract for 3 years." Scare tactics in advertising is nothing new.

I haven't seen one here in Los Angeles yet, but I don't watch much TV except for KTLA news.

Charles

I saw the HD ad Christmas Eve here in Oklahoma City. No real fanfare, just an animated spot giving the basic details. :boring:

I am sure most people don't have a clue and will freak come Feb 2009, assuming this really happens.:scratch2:

I am anticipating that unless some unforseen event happens, poorer people will be VERY angry come February 2009, and a big stink will be raised. Accusations that the FCC is against poor people will be made.

If a big enough stink is raised, analog might come back... in some form...

That seems to happen every time a big event like this is planned. Especially if the ACLU gets it's nose poked in on it. Somebody will definitely sue and whine discrimination, and the taxpayers will wind up holding the bag for some kind of payout, as usual.

Charles

The discrimination in this case is against those of us who like to imagine we live in a free-market economy where broadcasters and consumers would decide when we "go digital", not lobbyists representing an industry that needs a big seller to keep the assembly lines running in the Shang-Dong province of a communist nation.

We (taxpayers) are already subsidizing the cost of this switch via the $40 set-top coupons... Or were you expecting to see your federal taxes reduced because the government is about to have a windfall for the analog spectrum? :lmao: Then we'll subsidize the clean-up and/or recycling of millions of TV sets obsoleted overnight by government decree.

But I digress...

Since I've already accepted/expected greed and corruption as a system of government years ago; it would be nice if all-knowing big-brother would allow at least some portion (1-2 channels worth) of the vacated spectrum TV to remain for local public/non-profit/emergency usage. I would think boss-man would allow us at least this symbolic table-scrap. :no:

Great points all, Carmine. This whole thing is a mistake, in my opinion.

I know. If my maternal grandmother was still alive, she would be one of the ones who would freak, she used a 1962 RCA B&W (no UHF either) set up until she almost went into a nursing home and then passing away. She would go apecrap if she could not watch "her stories" (soap operas) anymore. BTW, FWIW, I did order my two coupons from the government today, hey if we are having this thrust down our throats, at least they should cover most or all of the costs to convert. The 1982 Zenith is on cable but I have two sets here that use antennas to get signals, my 1964 Sony B&W and a Commodore monitor hooked to a dead VCR, I figure I'll need those two boxes and what if I get my 1970 Zenith to work?

Well, I always semi-joked where someone should write Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson on this and see what happens. :D:scratch2:

OK, what I would do is, if I was king, the VHF channels (2 - 13) and UHF channels 14 thru 50 would still be NTSC and 51 thru 83 would be HDTV (ATSC). If I understand correctly, the old AMPS phone standard for cellphones was supposed to stop in 2007 thus freeing channels 70 thru 83 again. If AMPS is still around, then make the allocations 14 - 45 NTSC and 46 - 69 HDTV then. That way, let the free market decide. Then if HDTV takes off, I would then use all the UHF channel for it and then I would still leave NTSC on the VHF channels, I mean it would be nice for emergencies, otherwise HDTV would be useless and AM radio would be our only source of news and the like.

I think it is wrong to sell off the spectrum, it is a limited resource and there is not a lot of it so keeping it in the public interest would be the wisest thing to do. Unfortunatly ever since the Reagan era, we have put up a lot of things that should still be publically held up for sale. I understand doing this with some public lands, there is a whole buttload of land other there that can be utilized better but when it comes to the radio spectrum, a very limited resource, it is dead wrong. Sorry for getting a little political there but IMHO, there are very few on them who really work for the public interests, most have sold out to their "Big Governess" (a coalition of Big Business and Big Government) lobbyists.

Coincidently, I just saw a local HDTV conversion spot where the y'ocal weatherman flunky says something along the lines of "It's too complicated to explain..." (While complex math problems flash across the screen).

The man loves to keep his sheep stupid!

Speaking of stupid sheep, there's a nice little part of the Dept. of Commerce rules on this conversion:

Nice.

The DTV ad is running almost constantly here, and adding insult to injury the audio is absolutely wretched- massive sibilance and distortion. Mmmm, can't wait, hey thanks!

je

sad part is this statment is probably true.:sigh:

AMPS (analog cell phone service) is mostly gone already, and may end entirely in 2008, but I don't think it has a mandate to shut down. In any case, it will not release any RF spectrum. That same 800 MHz band is used by Verizon and others for their CDMA cell phones, so the analog shutdown will simply allow them to improve their (already excellent) coverage.

http://www.news.com/Broadcasters-get...l?tag=nefd.top

It looks like the FCC wants to speed things up.

Saw it here on Fox 40 news last night, and there showing some cheap-0- walmart brand crt tv working with an atsc tuner box. Kinda interesting glimpse into the future... They noted that you do not have to throw away your old set, just get the box..