Broadcasters get a little leeway on DTV switch
Cory Bergman January 1st, 2008
The FCC has approved new rules that will allow some broadcasters to make a “phased transition” to digital TV, which is slated for February 17th next year.
Also: Half of U.S. households now own at least one digital TV, says CEA
7 Comments Add your own
1. Anonymous | January 1st, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Why aren’t HD tuners for HD-ready TVs on the market yet? There are USB things for computers (as in requiring Windows) that you can find online, but nobody seems to have HDTV tuners, including big-box electronics stores. Are electronics manufacturers just preferring people buy entirely new TVs rather than upgrade their “old” HD-ready TVs?
2. Glen | January 2nd, 2008 at 6:07 am
There are HD tuners for HDTVs out there, but many manufacturers stopped making them because the demand was so low. Most folks are on cable/dish and manufacturers weren’t making any money on the boxes.
3. Joe - fourhman.com | January 2nd, 2008 at 7:29 am
So what are the “new rules”? That article says almost nothing. Is the Feb 09 deadline no longer such a deadline? Does “phased transition” mean stations just have to show significant progress by Feb 09?
4. Bill Gorman | January 2nd, 2008 at 10:18 am
I think it’s just the first step in what will become a full fledged retreat from the Feb ‘09 date.
My guess is that nothing will be required by then, and that the “phase-in” of requirements will take a very, very long time.
5. TR | January 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Actually, the “phase in” is going to allow some station to go “early” if it’s determined that their local market has minimal viewers “over the air”. The FCC is actually proposing some “test” markets to go early to see what the reaction to shutting off completely in one day is going to be. Now “that” may lead to a delay if it determined that the public reaction is overly negative. As someone in the busines, I can’t wait to get this thing over with. I just as soon go today to save on the power bills and duplication of two facilities.
6. Anon | January 2nd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Just one more reason for me to go online for TV…
7. John | January 2nd, 2008 at 8:22 pm
The “phased transistion” allows stations that are moving back to their old analog channel to apply for Special Temporary Authority (up to a year) to stay on their present DTV channel until they can convert their analog transmitter and antenna to digital. Analog will disappear on 2/17/09, but they are allowing some extra time for stations to move to their permanent DTV channel.
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