Breaking news: Senate approves 4 month delay in DTV transition

[MRX37]

2/17/09 may not be the end of analog TV after all...

EDIT: linky

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28863961...829/?GT1=43001

[Brian]

Silly, they should just be done with it. The $40 certificate idea was stupid. They could have simply had a$40 tax credit as a refundable credit. Save a lot of postage and make work. I'd love to know the actual cost per voucher.

[zenithfan1]

I kind of figured that would happen. I hope so, then I can get a few more sets going for the last of analog. Three of eight roundies runnin' so far and lots of portables. I hope to have at least one of my RCA roundies going for the end as well. I'm making progress on the Admiral, had it a year now and have watched an hour of tv on it. Grrr. When it's done, no lie, about 30 percent of the chassis will be rebuilt with NOS parts. Already looks pretty snazzy. (unless you try to use it)

[OvenMaster]

The first thing that pops into my mind is whether the companies that purchased spectrum that was to be vacated by analog broadcasters will be compensated for loss of use. Maybe they'll even sue Uncle Sam.

But I agree with Brian. Just be done with it. Besides, chances are that there will be yet another reason to put off the conversion in four months.

[Brian]

As a kid I remember reading articles about television being a passing fad and that people will again go to the movies as their primary entertainment and place to see news.

They got one thing right, television was a passing fad.

[slow_jazz]

I figured this would happen....

[vegabass25]

Then in 4 months they will do it again and soo on.......

[zenithfan1]

Originally Posted by vegabass25

Then in 4 months they will do it again and soo on.......

Pretty much what's been happening. I remember when 2006 was supposed to be the cutoff year. Oh well, fine by me, I use analog tvs a lot with an antenna.

[zenith2134]

Wow, it is official? Can't say I'm surprised.

[radiotvnut]

The local ABC affiliate has announced that they will cease analog broadcasting on 2/17. On their 30 minute locally produced program concerning DTV, they said there would be no more analog broadcast after 2/17, even if the deadline is pushed back. They feel that they have done an excellent job of informing the public and a delay on the cutoff would cause viewer confusion as well as throw everything else off track on the station's end. They said that a Gov't mandate would be the only way they'd keep analog after 2/17. I don't know about the other stations; but, I suspect 2/17 will be the last day of analog for them as well.

[drh4683]

Figures. With the economic downfall, I suspect the delay will longer than 4 months. Actually, I was somewhat looking forward to the end day. I wanted to witness all the chaos and the sensationalized news reports etc.
I can see it now, they'll interview some mope walking down the street who claims they don't know what the DTV transition is. Then they'll interview some lady who claims she doesn't watch TV so she doesn't know whats going on.

[Duffinator]

Originally Posted by Brian

Silly, they should just be done with it. The $40 certificate idea was stupid. They could have simply had a$40 tax credit as a refundable credit. Save a lot of postage and make work. I'd love to know the actual cost per voucher.

That's the most sensible comment I've heard all day.

I've been waiting for the switch for eight years now so I guess hour months won't kill me. Besides I have DTV and OTA HD so I'm already there.

[kx250rider]

I have no idea why it will help to put it off a few weeks. Either do it as planned, or cancel it altogether. All I can see is a lot of wasted planning. How about things like transmission cable & equipment leases, broadcast licenses, and Heaven knows what all that now will need to be extended/renegotiated ? What a boondoggle.

Originally Posted by Brian

I'd love to know the actual cost per voucher.

Knowing that the Government can spend $3,000 for a screw, I'd bet the vouchers were contracted out to a private company, maybe at a cost (including labor, accounting, funding, postage, and all kinds of other costs), of about $150 each.

Charles

[Robert Grant]

I agree that the lack of people not ready for the transition represents a huge motivation failure- I've met several people who got the coupons, let them expire, and now complain they will lose their TV.

One change I would have made in the delay (not that I approve of the delay itself): On some date in April, shut down NTSC color. Having their sets go monochrome would motivate people to get their boxes and hook them up, but they wouldn't be able to argue that they "had no access to news and warnings for safety", as these would be just as effective in monochrome as in color.

[MRX37]

I'd rather see the DTV transition happen, BUT keep at LEAST the VHF analog stations operating for news and emergencies.

I say VHF because who else would want those frequencies, and VHF can generally come in better then UHF anyway.