Digital TV

lone-traveler · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject: Digital TV

APTS Study Shows Difficulty in Convincing Over-The-Air Households to Adopt Digital Television

WASHINGTON—June 4, 2007—A new study released by the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) found that left to their own devices, the 22 million American households that rely upon free, over-the-air television will move slowly to adopt digital TV sets or subscribe to cable or satellite services.

“Public broadcasters have long supported a successful DTV transition. However, our study confirms that the government grossly underfunded consumer education when it mandated the end of television as most people know it by February 2009,” said APTS President and CEO John Lawson. “We need a Y2K-level effort to ensure that people are aware that their older TV sets will go dark in 21 months if they don’t acquire a digital converter, buy a new set or incur the monthly cost of a cable or satellite bill. They also need to know that digital over-the-air television will continue to be free, will offer them many more channels and will give them a better picture even on an older set—if they get a converter box.”

The study also revealed that of the 22 million U.S. households that get their television exclusively free and over-the-air, only 7% own a digital television, compared to 23% who subscribe to cable or satellite. Therefore, few of these households are now equipped to obtain digital TV programming on an over-the-air basis and will be slow in making the change to televisions capable of receiving digital signals.

When Congress passed legislation in 2006 to end analog TV broadcasting, it projected the U.S. Treasury will pocket $10 billion by auctioning off the channels now used by analog broadcasters. The government also set aside up to $1.5 billion for a coupon program to subsidize digital-to-analog set-top converter boxes. But Congress only provided $5 million to make consumers aware of the coupon program and the end of analog television.

www.apts.org

How much will converter boxes cost?
Set-top converter boxes have been available for several years, although steep prices (from just under $200 to several hundred dollars until fairly recently) have limited the market. But affordable digital TV converter boxes should begin to reach U.S. consumers by 2008, manufacturers say.

Expect to pay $50 to $75, according to a government estimate in early 2007, for a basic DTV converter box. Retail prices may start higher but fall as demand for the device increases. Two leading manufacturers are now targeting a $60 price for entry models.

A federal subsidy program will provide two coupons by mail, each worth $40 off the cost of a converter box, to households that request them. For details, see How do I get my $40 coupon from the converter box subsidy program?

www.dtvfacts.com

I don't know..sometimes I just get "real suspicious" about stuff..
what do you think..good deal/bad deal?

hugs
lone

45degreeN · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:36 am Post subject:

I remember when there was a change between the old system of black and white and color TV. How long did it take before every TV was color? Going to Digital TV is a better change than the B/W to color change.

lone-traveler · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:24 am Post subject:

something about after drinking the old wine not desiring the new..lol..
I don't have cable. I have maybe 4 stations that come in relatively clear..(1 is spanish).
I just get suspicious with these little black boxes they put in your living room..
sometimes I'm just hmm..paranoid..lol

hugs
lone

45degreeN · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:57 am Post subject:

For my family we get direct TV and it is just the basic but it does cover all the important channels. Entertainment is one of the primary bills I pay each month.

P1234567890 · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:17 am Post subject:

lone-traveler · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:06 am Post subject:

the last time I had cable was in 1999.. Shocked

P123..you just download movies on the computer?
does it cost?
I have DSL and even when I go to watch youtube..it's all broken up. I thought dsl was suposed to be better than dial up.. Confused or disgusted

I pay more and get the same kind of service..

I watched a program a little while back how they are making electronic gadgets (tv's, converter boxes) with little chips in them so they can "monitor" you.
I can understand what I do on the web is open domain, but not in my livingroom or bedroom for that matter.
Like I say, probably just paranoid..

hugs
lone

FFT · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:58 am Post subject:

Man, I can't wait until I see someone argue that a digital converter box is the mark of the beast.

P1234567890 · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:05 pm Post subject:

lone-traveler · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:06 pm Post subject:

lone-traveler · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:12 pm Post subject:

Hi P123,

P1234567890 · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject:

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6661 Location: USA

32411 kbs download here... forgot what the upload was (4 digits though...

Cable....

lone-traveler · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject:

I'm using embarq because that's who have I have my land phone through...but I have sprint through my cell phone. And I noticed when I ran the test I checked for my area and sprint was at the top of the list.
I pay I think $60. or $70 for the service.
It's not just slow downloading, but all the time I get this "error" message and I haveto shut down the internet. I'm thinking it's msn explorer..but what happens if I get rid of that? will my whole internet crash?

do I need msn explorer to be online?

thanks..
hug lone

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6661 Location: USA

P1234567890 · Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject: