FCC slaps major fines on retailers?!!

[jw]

All over the analog to DTV consumer awareness
Link

I think this is total BS, Companies like BB were very proactive as they pulled all analog TVs back in Oct 2007

Those chains included the following:

• Sears, Roebuck, K-Mart, $1,096,000;
• Wal-Mart Stores/Sam's West; $992,000;
• Circuit City Stores, $712,000;
• Fry's Electronics, $384,000;
• Target, $296,000
• Best Buy, $280,000
• CompUSA, $168,000

K-mart/Sears got hit the hardest!!( I am sure there response was "whats DTV?"0LOL

Best Buy Response

A Best Buy spokesman said that chain “is extremely disappointed that the FCC has chosen this course of action around an issue that is no longer even relevant to our stores.”
Best Buy said it voluntarily pulled all analog-only tuner products from our stores on Oct. 1, 2007, in a proactive effort to prevent confusion and to help jump start consumer awareness around the DTV conversion.

Circuit City Response

Commenting on the action, a spokesperson for Circuit City said the chain is “disappointed that the FCC has not fully recognized the constructive efforts being made by retailers and others engaged in the digital TV transition. We have begun a year-long, multifaceted campaign to educate the public about the nation’s upcoming transition from analog to digital TV broadcasting and we are participating fully in the government's coupon program to help consumers purchase DTV converter boxes.”

I wonder if they will really have to pay?

[BStecke]

Even if they do, 280 grand is chump change to Best Buy. Seems pretty petty, though.

[jw]

Originally Posted by BStecke

Even if they do, 280 grand is chump change to Best Buy. Seems pretty petty, though.

same for the 992,000 dollars for WM, K-Mart might have to raise prices to pay this one

[WickyWoo]

It's true that they've done pretty much nothing to explain to people their options. Most people think their TVs will implode in Feb if they don't buy a new TV. Wonder why the retailers haven't been in a rush to dispel that one?

if you scroll to the bottom, you'll notice that the V-chip violators, with the exception of Panasonic are all the crap shovelware brands (and yes that includes Phillips, at least the product they ship in the US)

[jw]

Most of the retailers are deceiving customers into buying a new set when after all, If you have Cable or Satelite you are fine, no converter box needed. I just learned that recently. I ordered them coupons for nothing.

Your analog set will work fine with cable, FYI

[Goodguy818]

Originally Posted by jwbbud

Most of the retailers are deceiving customers into buying a new set when after all, If you have Cable or Satelite you are fine, no converter box needed. I just learned that recently. I ordered them coupons for nothing.

Your analog set will work fine with cable, FYI

Yea my parents were freaked out about their tvs not going to work after Feb and how they could onlyget 2 coupons. I had to explain to them that the tvs would still work with cable.

[Spankey]

Amazing. Do you think the FCC (Government) fined themselves for not doing enough to educate the public? Of course not.

[WickyWoo]

Amazing. Do you think the FCC (Government) fined themselves for not doing enough to educate the public? Of course not.

I don't know about you, but I can totally tune out all commercials. I don't think anything the FCC can do would really help.

That being said, they've got a pile of money from those ludicrous indecency fines

[Rob71]

I know that I'm probably wasting my breath, but what happened to personal responsibility. When did it become Washington's job to make sure I can receive American Idol every week?

[tron3]

Originally Posted by Rob71

I know that I'm probably wasting my breath, but what happened to personal responsibility. When did it become Washington's job to make sure I can receive American Idol every week?

Since the liberals were given a voice.

I can see the point of the FCC a LITTLE. Many people still only receive TV OTA (over the air). Radio is still the viable alternative in case of national emergency, but I bet most people turn on the TV first before the radio. This potentially reduced communication is not good for national security, or safety.

I will be interested in seeing if analog really gets pulled on that EXACT date, or if it suddenly becomes a slow pull out.

I was at Best Buy last week and they still have standard definition tube tv's with digital tuners. The prices are definately reasonable. I think those digital tuner boxes are a joke. They do NOTHING for OTA users without a proper antenna.

[Joe Cain]

Originally Posted by tron3

I think those digital tuner boxes are a joke. They do NOTHING for OTA users without a proper antenna.

Not sure what you mean by a "proper" antenna? There are a few around the house, all old, one mounted and a couple set-top models, and all of them pull in digital broadcasts OTA.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by jwbbud

Most of the retailers are deceiving customers into buying a new set when after all, If you have Cable or Satelite you are fine, no converter box needed. I just learned that recently. I ordered them coupons for nothing.

Your analog set will work fine with cable, FYI

Wow, I'm surprised people are so confused. Do people think component output from a Blu-ray player can be shut off?

FYI: There is a no analog mandate for BD (2011), and a Image Constraint Token (ICT, defined on a disc) that can force the output down to 1/4HD (960x540p). But, the outputs in current machines can't be completely shut-off. And the discs that exist now don't have the ICT.

Another thing: You don't need a receiver that handles DTS-HD MA to take advantage of that decoding update coming for the PS/3.

Gary

[tron3]

Originally Posted by Joe Cain

Not sure what you mean by a "proper" antenna? There are a few around the house, all old, one mounted and a couple set-top models, and all of them pull in digital broadcasts OTA.

I should have clarified. "Rabbit ears" do not pick up digital transmission because they are made for VHF transmission. Digital transmits on UHF. Oddly, the often forgotten UHF "bow tie" or "ring" antenna will pick up HD channels.

But "bow ties" and "rings" still don't pick up the entire range of channels. You either need a UHF roof antenna, or a delta shaped set top antenna such as The Phillips / Zenith silver sensor.

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-PHDTV1...7924488&sr=8-1

I have 2 HDTV's in my home using this antenna for local OTA transmission. Two other HDTV's and DVD recorder share an antenna with a 3-way splitter and it is great. If it doesn't work you are just in a bad location.

The splitter is just a 900MHz version from the dollar store.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by tron3

They do NOTHING for OTA users without a proper antenna.

The UHF portion of a common antenna is sufficient for the ATSC OTA. But, of course, much nicer and more compact examples exist (UHF only).

By Dad, being a notoriously anti-pay-for-TV type, has never had cable or sat. But, I've set my parents up with a DTV system now. And they pull in channels perfectly in from Buffalo.

At first they used their old NTSC antenna.

Gary

[jw]

Thats how we were growing up, lived in the rural country and there was no cable and Satellite was those big dishes. We picked up channels 3,4,5,7,9,20(on a good day)
just couldnt get anything feasible for the price, cable wasnt even in the area and satellite was too expensive.So I can understand what they are talking about . Parents since moved and now they can get cable

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

I don't know about you, but I can totally tune out all commercials. I don't think anything the FCC can do would really help.

That being said, they've got a pile of money from those ludicrous indecency fines

Oddly enough, here in San Diego,the ONLY time I see the FCC coupon commercialsis is when I'm watching a CABLE channel. It seems like the FCC isn't doing all they can to promote the coupon to the people that need it most - the people that don't subscribe to cable or satellite. Has anyone else noticed this? Am I just watching the wrong channels at the wrong time?

[tron3]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

...

By Dad, being a notoriously anti-pay-for-TV type, has never had cable or sat. But, I've set my parents up with a DTV system now. And they pull in channels perfectly in from Buffalo.

At first they used their old NTSC antenna.

Gary

My parents aren't even good at figuring out how to use the DVD player. My old HD tube TV has an HD box and they can barely figure out how to turn both units off from the remote. Not like the good old days when you simply told them to turn to channel 3 to use the VCR.

I think getting them a d-box come 2/17/09 will just frustrate them. They need something they can just turn on.

[jw]

when I saw that Digital cable box, all I could say was O No!!! Not another freaking remote...lol

[dialog_gvf]

Incidently, there is no analog shutdown imminent in Canada. So, anyone living in a border city/town will still be able to get Canadian NTSC broadcasts.

Gary

[Cordre69]

The FCC is all butthurt because they keep losing. The merger between Sirius and XM has them all angsty.