House Passes Delay to Digital TV

[Chevypower]

It's retarded.... We knew about this a decade ago. There will always be people who won't do anything until they have to (when analog is switched off)

[Simplayer]

I thought the major problem was that the government fund ran out of money, yet there's still eligible people that still don't have their coupon?

[mustang-gt-2002]

the Digital switch was supposed to happin back in june of 2006 was looking forword to it.
then they sad not till FEB. 2009. now june 2009. will it ever happin.

just pull the plug NOW!

[DIY_HD]

I think the real issue is that most of the people not ready for DTV are voters. The Senate bill allowed the stations to transition as planned, if they chose to. This makes the stations the bad guys and the politicians are not to blame. Why else would this non-essential issue take priority over the economic woes?

TV is not a necessity or a constitutionally guaranteed right. Contrary to what some people believe, there was life before TV. How many households do not have a radio? To say they need talking heads to get the news, weather and sports is horsefeathers.

If they want TV, let them put down that bag of potato chips and the remote, get off their butts and buy a box. While I am sympathetic toward the elderly, and the disabled, most are just plain lazy. Nothing short of cutting off the analog signal will motivate them to act.

[tron3]

I am forecasting the goverment is going to wake up and realize this is partly a "squatter" issue. Many poor people have equally poor attitudes. "Why should I have to buy a box or new TV?" "They should GIVE it to me."

So, these people do nothing in the hopes of the goverment gives them something. They squat and refuse to accept progress. Then they will cry and squat some more that they have no TV signal. Then the government will wake up, and realize these people didn't want a coupon, they wanted a completely free handout!

Not saying they are the sole issue, but certainly part of it. People have too much sense of entitlement from the government. I say to let reality slap them in the face. Maybe without TV they will finally go out for a walk and lose some weight.

[andyman1970]

Originally Posted by DIY_HD

I think the real issue is that most of the people not ready for DTV are voters. The Senate bill allowed the stations to transition as planned, if they chose to. This makes the stations the bad guys and the politicians are not to blame. Why else would this non-essential issue take priority over the economic woes?

TV is not a necessity or a constitutionally guaranteed right. Contrary to what some people believe, there was life before TV. How many households do not have a radio? To say they need talking heads to get the news, weather and sports is horsefeathers.

If they want TV, let them put down that bag of potato chips and the remote, get off their butts and buy a box. While I am sympathetic toward the elderly, and the disabled, most are just plain lazy. Nothing short of cutting off the analog signal will motivate them to act.

I think more of the voters are ready for the transition. These same people who aren't ready by not making the call to get a coupon and a box in a timely manner are the same people who don't vote in elections then complain because the government is "screwing" them.

Originally Posted by tron3

I am forecasting the goverment is going to wake up and realize this is partly a "squatter" issue. Many poor people have equally poor attitudes. "Why should I have to buy a box or new TV?" "They should GIVE it to me."

So, these people do nothing in the hopes of the goverment gives them something. They squat and refuse to accept progress. Then they will cry and squat some more that they have no TV signal. Then the government will wake up, and realise these people didn't want a coupon, they wanted a completely free handout!

Not saying they are the sole issue, but certainly part of it. People have too much sense of entitlement from the government. I say to let reality slap them in the face. Maybe without TV they will finally go out for a walk and lose some weight.

I totally agree. Especially the part about poor people having poor attitudes. That's why they go no where.

[Halcro 1]

..

[Halcro 1]

Originally Posted by andyman1970

I think more of the voters are ready for the transition. These same people who aren't ready by not making the call to get a coupon and a box in a timely manner are the same people who don't vote in elections then complain because the government is "screwing" them.



I totally agree. Especially the part about poor people having poor attitudes. That's why they go no where.

If you cant afford a box you shouldent have a TV .. After all who said its our right to have TV ......Discout coupons for a box .....If our government cant get the DTV switch right , what can they get right

[bandit29]

I dunno if this was posted but it seems TV stations were given the option to stick to the original deadline. Then what is the point of the delay until June? e



http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/200902..._tv_transition

NEW YORK - Television viewers who use antennas and were expecting a few more months to prepare for digital TV may not have much time left before their sets go dark: Many stations still plan to drop analog broadcasts in less than two weeks.

When Congress postponed the mandatory transition to digital TV until June, it also gave stations the option to stick to the originally scheduled date of Feb. 17.

[reiella]

Originally Posted by bandit29

I dunno if this was posted but it seems TV stations were given the option to stick to the original deadline. Then what is the point of the delay until June? e



http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/200902..._tv_transition

Stations already had the option to transition early. They just have to file paperwork with the FCC and the FCC has to approve it [for various reasons].

That is actually part of why the delay is looking to cost Qwest at least 10mill.

[Anthony P]

I dunno if this was posted but it seems TV stations were given the option to stick to the original deadline. Then what is the point of the delay until June?

to screw with peoples minds

[Bobby Henderson]

Yesterday, the ABC station in my viewing market (Wichita Falls, TX - Lawton, OK) led off its newscast announcing it would cease analog transmissions as originally scheduled on Feb. 17. The station had an even more detailed announcement posted on its web site. Additionally, the station said all four major network affiliates in this viewing market would end analog broadcasts on Feb. 17.

Nearly all the TV stations in Oklahoma City are ending analog broadcasts on Feb. 17. According to a Nielsen ranking of the top 56 markets in the US, Oklahoma City ranked 10th best in preparedness for the switch. Nearby Tulsa ranked one of the worst, 54th out of 56.

[[1080-p]]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

to screw with peoples minds

http://broadcastengineering.com/news...ign-bill-0205/

[TheTenth]

It's incredible to see how rushed to see this "analog TV is over" passage is ...
In France "TNT" is still very young, decoders have become cheap only this year, and there's still alot of places (25% I'd say) that can't even receive it, and even in big cities there are holes where you can't get it.
Seeing the small upgrade in quality (OK the upgrade is in stability more) I wonder why the motivation is ...

[Bobby Henderson]

Rushed? The DTV transition?

Baloney.

HDTV has been in development for over 30 years. Japan had its MUSE system during the 1980s and the US had a similar analog standard, but nearly 20 years ago it was decided that HDTV would be a digital-based system.

In 1996 the US government established the original May, 2006 shut off date for analog TV broadcasts. That date was pushed back to Feb. 17, 2009 by legislation passed in 2005.

This transition has not been rushed at all. The only thing being rushed is this last minute delay nonsense that will penalize a lot of businesses to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, not to mention penalize the 94% of the American public who are ready for the DTV change.

[Driver_King]

It's actually more around 97% of the populace is ready. 3% is what we're going to pay millions upon millions for so they can run to the store and get their converter box or at least get basic cable for one month, in most cases, less than $10 per month. I just don't see how the argument people's choice of putting food on the plate or watching TV, the only thing they can afford to do with no jobs.

[xneox]

Originally Posted by TheTenth

It's incredible to see how rushed to see this "analog TV is over" passage is ...
In France "TNT" is still very young, decoders have become cheap only this year, and there's still alot of places (25% I'd say) that can't even receive it, and even in big cities there are holes where you can't get it.
Seeing the small upgrade in quality (OK the upgrade is in stability more) I wonder why the motivation is ...

Small upgrade? Maybe you don't live in a good area, but where I live I get more than 25 ota digital channels (although I can discount four of them - I have no need nor desire for four sub-channels of Telemundo, thank you very much), and in case you don't know how ota digital works, they're all 100% perfect - no snow...no lines...if they weren't perfect, I wouldn't see them. Phenomenal difference over analog.

And what's the rush? As Mr. Henderson pointed out - there is no rush. It's been in the works for decades. Easier to carry...easier to broadcast...better quality. There is no lose...only win.

I'm personally pissed because I stand to gain a number of channels over the 25 I already have as soon as this switch is pulled - there are a few slackers waiting for the official date to go to full power around here.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by [1080-p]

http://broadcastengineering.com/news...ign-bill-0205/

So now its up the stations to switch over if they want?

[Anthony P]

yup, which is why I said "to screw with peoples minds"

some broadcasters will decide "who cares about the holes" others will postpone needing what is needed with "I have time", others might do it more gradually. So poor dumb J6P (after all wasn't he the one everyone is worried about not being ready) will be seeing some stations disappearing for no reason, others getting worst..... and that is siupposed to make it an easier transition then going to BB (or where ever he will go or whom ever he will call) and saying “what the FAQ, there is something wrong with my TV and I can’t watch any shows any more, just snow”

[Bobby Henderson]

Originally Posted by saprano

So now its up tp the stations to switch over if they want?

Yes, many local TV stations can still shut off their analog broadcasts on Feb. 17 -but only if they get the proper paperwork filed with the FCC by Mon. Feb. 9.

All of the local TV stations in my viewing market have filed the new paperwork with the FCC and intend to shut off their analog broadcasts on Feb. 17. The NBC and FOX affiliates are already broadcasting their DTV signals at full power. Our CBS station is getting more technical work, but will be increasing its DTV signal to full power very soon. The ABC station will boost its DTV signal to full power on Feb. 17.

There are certain limitations present in the new FCC rules. The FCC can block early shut off of analog signals in certain markets. If a TV station is broadcasting its DTV signal from a temporary channel assignment it must stay put at that temporary signal until June 12. Over 60% of TV stations have their DTV signal running at its final channel assignment -which is different from their analog channel number.

I'm wondering what these stations will do in the long term with their station identity. Our channel 7 will really become channel 11. But will they use the channel 11 number in their station ID or stick with channel 7?