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Question: Why should I or anyone be required to buy a new tuner for my television? When UHF came out it was mandated to be included on new sets, just like the new atsc tuners are mandated on new sets. It did not mean I had to have a new tuner to receive existing stations. So the mandate did not put any burdon on the consumer other than higher prices for new sets. It did not obsolete existing sets. Just as color did not obsolete b&w television. In my area when cable goes down, like during severe storms and tornadoes, I use some small tv sets to watch our one local off the air channel. Adding a converter would not be practical.
I have no real use for digital tv. Analogue tv is quite adaquate. It is the program content, not the picture quality that really maters. A milliion lines of eye popping high definition resolution is useless on ablut 99% of all current programming.
I stand by my original comment that the only reason for the change is to allow local broadcasters to charge for their programming. Since it will be digital this will be easy. After all why should cable superstations be the only ones that can charge both advertisers and consumers? It will not happen overnight, but it will happen. Your local off the air station will transmit multiple video streams. The major programs that they think most people will want to watch will be on the streams you have to pay for.
It will signal the end of free off the air tv.
Bill R
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