Why are all TV's switching to digital and why is the gov't giving every American $40 to change?

[live love laugh]

Just saw on ABC that feds are giving each household two $40 credit card like thingies to help buy digital converters or new teevees next year when all systems go digital.

I don't understand the emphasis on switching systems. Seems like another control mechanism to me.

[jtrockville]

1. In theory...

I think the move was supposed to free up the over-the-air analog spectrum for other uses (like emergency responder radios). I'm not sure, but I don't think any emergency responders bid on the spectrum.

[NYC]

3. So, why is the government subsidizing the switch?

That seems unusual to me. Any idea why?

[jtrockville]

14. $$$$$

The spectrum is being auctioned for quite a few billion. Most of the spectrum blocks have already met their reserve (except, of course, block D - the block that supposed to be used for public safety):
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6530725.html?rssid=193

[Fredda Weinberg]

9. I worked @ FDNY. You are mistaken. The space is needed and I cannot

safely say more. Good evening.

[jtrockville]

12. What was I mistaken about? Isn't FDNY an emergency responder?

[bbinacan]

2. Digital is a better signal

and it is my understanding that the gov't gave the frequencies to broadcasters in return for moving to one standard of broadcasting. I have no idea why the coupons are being sent. Sounds like a huge waste of money from the Treasury.

[kevinbgoode]

6. Digital is a better signal.

I won a flat screen television in a raffle a few months ago and was amazed at how clear the signals are (and how many more stations I receive) and I'm using an indoor antenna.

[BelgianMadCow]

4. Yes it's a control mechanism. Digital Rights Management.

HDMI is actually a DRM system first.

Here, the government has set forth that a selection of analog programs have to remain on cable.

Something that is streamed on demand is never really yours, is it?

[kevinbgoode]

5. Analog broadcasting will come to a halt on Feb. 17, 2009.

So people who have tube televisions and receive signals through an antenna will no longer be able to receive television signals. Unless the television has a built-in digital tuner, or is connected to a cable/dish device, the digital signals cannot be translated into the antenna. The conversion boxes are designed to alleviate that issue.

My understanding is that the government is obligated in this matter because, by choosing to move to a digital broadcast system,they are preventing a significant number of Americans from accessing the public airwaves via their antenna receivers and analog televisions. So the coupons are being provided to deflect the cost of purchasing boxes to convert the signals into existing television units. Otherwise, those currently with antennas would either have to purchase a digital television or subscribe to a cable/dish service.

It is a good idea to identify retailers early in your area which carry the devices - especially since the number of coupons being offered by the government are limited. You need to apply for the coupons and they are only good for 90 days.

[Harry Monroe]

7. I've got 6 TV's, all tube picture

And all connected to cable (no box or tuner device, except for my one connected to TiVo). Will I still receive a signal after 2009?? Sorry if this question seems stupid, but I don't feel like replacing them.

[Fredda Weinberg]

8. Your cable company has taken care of you. This is off air receivers n/t

[Babel_17]

10. Analog has less bang for the buck

You can fit more digital shows in the equivalent space. Think of analog shows as uncompressed audio and digital shows as being in flac or super high quality mp3. That's not a perfect analogy.

In point of fact most cable providers are doing a crappy job with their digital compression. A lot of Europe uses more bandwidth for their high definition shows and they use a more efficient video codec. We use mpeg2 (think DVD) and they use h264 (think Blu ray or HD DVD).

Also, digital doesn't automatically mean High Definition. Tons of shows are still in low definition even though they are sent digitally.

Digital is also needed for DRM as has been noted in the posts above mine.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LSK]

13. because Comcast wrote the law???

:shrug:

[eppur_se_muova]

15. Because there's nothing in the world more important than image quality ...

it's all about IMAGE.