Nearly 800,000 call for help with digital TV

[HDTV1080P]

Perhaps some people that were not prepared will go out and purchase DTV converter boxes, new TV's and DVD recorders with a ATSC tuner. I see the Direct TV AM-21 dual ATSC add on tuner has been backordered for several months from mail order places and some places are running out of antennas. This might help the economy a little.

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_12586501

ABC, FCC Working on DTV Reception Issues
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/279344-ABC_FCC_Working_on_DTV_Reception_Issues.php

DTV Transition Went Smoothly, Say Reports
http://www.twice.com/article/CA6665226.html?desc=topstory

[Sonny]

Thats funny & sad at the same time... I doubt these people have the knowledge & or cash to go out & buy a DVD recorder. I guess "they" under estimated how many people will need DTV converter boxes...?

[Jimbo976]

Well at least they know how to use the phone even if they can't understand all the information put out there on this change.

[Batman1980]

Bloody Americans...
*RUNS AWAY*
Sometimes I'm so embarassed to live here.

[Another_Dude]

[nelson] haha! [/nelson]

What, these people didn't see the commercials, hear the stories on the news, or see the ads in print media for the switchover?

Well that's just too bad.

[mugupo]

Those maybe a scammer try to get more free coupon.

[VinnAY]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Thats funny & sad at the same time... I doubt these people have the knowledge & or cash to go out & buy a DVD recorder. I guess "they" under estimated how many people will need DTV converter boxes...?

No not under estimated, over-estimated that people today have a smidge of common sense and can reasonably manage their lives without direct intervention.

[Another_Dude]

Originally Posted by VinnAY

No not under estimated, over-estimated that people today have a smidge of common sense and can reasonably manage their lives without direct intervention.

Imagine the transition from regular to unleaded gas in today's society. The .gov would be throwing around coupons for free cars.

[Sponge-worthy]

I saw a decent number of folks buying converter boxes at my local Best Buy last Saturday. I guess they thought everyone was kidding about the changeover...sorry folks. It's real.

[Nick4Blu_81]

These people have had almost two years to prepare for this. Come on!

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Another_Dude

[nelson] haha! [/nelson]

What, these people didn't see the commercials, hear the stories on the news, or see the ads in print media for the switchover?

Well that's just too bad.

And without forgetting this as been talked about for 2-3 years, ah the pure bliss of being clueless, wish I could achive this wonderful nirvava like state of mind sometimes

[Sammy]

Originally Posted by Another_Dude

Imagine the transition from regular to unleaded gas in today's society. The .gov would be throwing around coupons for free cars.

No kidding.

[Sammy]

Originally Posted by ryan69969

I saw a decent number of folks buying converter boxes at my local Best Buy last Saturday. I guess they thought everyone was kidding about the changeover...sorry folks. It's real.

I saw a thing on the news where they BB guy came right on the screen and said that they were selling new HDTV's and the converter box to hook it up with. As far as I know in looking at a lot of HDTV ads, none of them are just a monitor w/o a tuner anymore like when HDTV's first came out to cut down costs of production.

Scamming the government out of $40 and the consumer out of another $10 ($50-$40 coupon) for a converter that is not even neccesary should be a crime and this guy just came right out and said it. The news reporter didn't even clue in to it.

[threefiftyrocket]

Originally Posted by Another_Dude

Imagine the transition from regular to unleaded gas in today's society. The .gov would be throwing around coupons for free cars.

I WANT A FREE CAR!!!!

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by VinnAY

No not under estimated, over-estimated that people today have a smidge of common sense and can reasonably manage their lives without direct intervention.

LMAO!

[MCT]

800,000 people who could have easily stood in as extras on the set of Idiocracy

[threefiftyrocket]

Originally Posted by MCT

800,000 people who could have easily stood in as extras on the set of Idiocracy

I object! That man broke my house!

[Riff Magnum]

Sure is a lot of snarkiness going on around here. To be fair to those having troubles, most of them are probably in rural areas and are used to getting everything for free via OTA. Most of them probably resent being told by "the man" that they have to go buy some box to get the same old channels they've always got for free. They also probably figured since the switch has been delayed before that it would again and would deal with it when the time came. I have satellite so i'm not bothered, but i've talked to several people who are simply gonna go without TV period until they can afford dish or cable. I honestly don't blame them. The government and the networks should pony up all the money to give everyone a converter box. After all it was their idea. Contrary to popular stereotypes, not everyone in this country are couch potato dorks like we are. Maybe they just wanna watch the local news before sleepy time.

[wafi]

I agree with Riff when it comes to the Man paying for the boxes...why should the public fork out dough for what the govt and the cable companies decided upon. But 800,000 people?!?! Musta been a huge rock they crawled outta under! Cmon America!!!

[Rblu-Dblu]

I believe the government did give out coupons for converter boxes. You just had to be aware enough to request one. I guess if you dont watch television very often you wouldn't know about the transition.