Comments on: Magid: DTV awareness up… but so is confusion http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/ Where TV Finds the Future Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:54:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Matt E. http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-1033595 Matt E. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:16:56 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-1033595 Hussman, I can tell you don't work in the electronics retail industry. I work in a Wal-Mart electronics department and at least once a day I have people who have various misunderstandings about the transistion. Things I've heard (from various customers on a regular basis): 1. Buying a converter box turns your regular TV into an HDTV 2. You no longer need an antenna once you hook up a converter box 3. You need a converter box for cable or satellite (yes, people STILL think this despite EVERY infomercial about the transition stating otherwise) 4. you need a converter box for a TV bought within the last year (any TV sold in the last year or so should already have a digital tuner). The other problem I run into is people waiting till the last minute before their cupons expire to try to redeem them, only to find that we are sold out of converter boxes for the week (the distribution center simply isn't shipping enough of them, and we are generally sold out by noon or 1 PM on any day that we actually get any). Hussman, I can tell you don’t work in the electronics retail industry. I work in a Wal-Mart electronics department and at least once a day I have people who have various misunderstandings about the transistion.

Things I’ve heard (from various customers on a regular basis):

1. Buying a converter box turns your regular TV into an HDTV
2. You no longer need an antenna once you hook up a converter box
3. You need a converter box for cable or satellite (yes, people STILL think this despite EVERY infomercial about the transition stating otherwise)
4. you need a converter box for a TV bought within the last year (any TV sold in the last year or so should already have a digital tuner).

The other problem I run into is people waiting till the last minute before their cupons expire to try to redeem them, only to find that we are sold out of converter boxes for the week (the distribution center simply isn’t shipping enough of them, and we are generally sold out by noon or 1 PM on any day that we actually get any).

]]> By: Hussman http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-838957 Hussman Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:34:35 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-838957 I call shennanigans. Yeah, there's some confusion, but people get it. I give presentations about it to groups as part of our station's education process, and there is much retention. Heck, just talked to a 60+ year old woman about it, and she was VERY educated on the subject. She knew all about the issue. My question to all of you is... instead of bitching about it, what are you doing to fight the confusion? I make it very clear that TV stations can't reach everyone. We need Word of Mouth to make sure everyone knows. I call shennanigans. Yeah, there’s some confusion, but people get it. I give presentations about it to groups as part of our station’s education process, and there is much retention. Heck, just talked to a 60+ year old woman about it, and she was VERY educated on the subject. She knew all about the issue.

My question to all of you is… instead of bitching about it, what are you doing to fight the confusion? I make it very clear that TV stations can’t reach everyone. We need Word of Mouth to make sure everyone knows.

]]> By: Brian http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-838576 Brian Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:26:06 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-838576 I work in TV. I have cable broadband, but I don't have cable TV. Any TV viewing I do is on the Web, via the computer hooked up to my living room TV, or my Netflix subscription. I'm satisfied. I got my coupons and bought the converter boxes. I thought the setup was remarkably easy. The signals look great with $9 rabbit ears. I'm impressed with the experience. I didn't watch any over-the-air TV before getting the converters. Since getting DTV, I've watched part of a newscast and two programs in PBS. Sure enough, there's still nothing worth watching on there. I work in TV. I have cable broadband, but I don’t have cable TV. Any TV viewing I do is on the Web, via the computer hooked up to my living room TV, or my Netflix subscription. I’m satisfied.

I got my coupons and bought the converter boxes. I thought the setup was remarkably easy. The signals look great with $9 rabbit ears. I’m impressed with the experience.

I didn’t watch any over-the-air TV before getting the converters. Since getting DTV, I’ve watched part of a newscast and two programs in PBS. Sure enough, there’s still nothing worth watching on there.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-837733 Anonymous Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:56:12 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-837733 #8 tdc--they got some magic dust! A little bit for dtv viewer, a little bit more and more...? Far OUT, man but how did he get the rabbit ears to work, man? #8 tdc–they got some magic dust!

A little bit for dtv viewer, a little bit more and more…?

Far OUT, man but how did he get the rabbit ears to work, man?

]]> By: tdc http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-830821 tdc Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:05:30 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-830821 boy, if #3 "dtv viewer" doesn't sound like an industry plant. sorry if you aren't, but i can see them coming out in force to PUMP this going into the home stretch. btw #3, if you use strictly over the air for your tv viewing , how did you post your comment here? do you have dial-up? i'm just asking. boy, if #3 “dtv viewer” doesn’t sound like an industry plant.

sorry if you aren’t, but i can see them coming out in force to PUMP this going into the home stretch.

btw #3, if you use strictly over the air for your tv viewing , how did you post your comment here? do you have dial-up?

i’m just asking.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-828660 Anonymous Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:10:17 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-828660 Guess howmany LPs we have around here that won't be converting that day? NAB is insane anyway and if they want to get it done RIGHT and not find two months or more in tanked ratings perhaps it's time to get serious. Job One would be to actually care about the actual HD broadcasts and stop chopping them into shreds trying to serve four audiences. PBS are you listening? You can't run four networks and expect to deliver the "gorgeous digital of the future" everybody THINKS you have. UHF shouldn'y have been PREMATURELY given away when the system is still pretty tentative. I have my doubts lately watching the UHF you lease and the abject failings of your automation on newscasts. Guess howmany LPs we have around here that won’t be converting that day?

NAB is insane anyway and if they want to get it done RIGHT and not find two months or more in tanked ratings perhaps it’s time to get serious. Job One would be to actually care about the actual HD broadcasts and stop chopping them into shreds trying to serve four audiences. PBS are you listening? You can’t run four networks and expect to deliver the “gorgeous digital of the future” everybody THINKS you have. UHF shouldn’y have been PREMATURELY given away when the system is still pretty tentative.

I have my doubts lately watching the UHF you lease and the abject failings of your automation on newscasts.

]]> By: Joe - fourhman.com http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-827697 Joe - fourhman.com Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:43:17 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-827697 We did a :60 info spot with our main anchor flat-out telling viewers "Digital TV is not HD TV; you do not need to buy a brand new high-def set" and "if you have a cable or satellite service that includes local channels, you do not have to worry." It really has been a mess, and the constant sniping between the FCC and the NAB has not been helpful or amusing. We did a :60 info spot with our main anchor flat-out telling viewers “Digital TV is not HD TV; you do not need to buy a brand new high-def set” and “if you have a cable or satellite service that includes local channels, you do not have to worry.”

It really has been a mess, and the constant sniping between the FCC and the NAB has not been helpful or amusing.

]]> By: Brink http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-827271 Brink Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:02:50 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-827271 It doesn't help that some TV news stories on the subject--including at least one on a network--have been 100% wrong, confusing viewers about DTV vs. HDTV. It doesn’t help that some TV news stories on the subject–including at least one on a network–have been 100% wrong, confusing viewers about DTV vs. HDTV.

]]> By: Allen http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-826644 Allen Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:53:56 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-826644 Isn't ANY tv good as long as you have cable? Isn’t ANY tv good as long as you have cable?

]]> By: DTV Viewer http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-826643 DTV Viewer Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:53:43 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-826643 Actually Charles, it only costs $20 if you get the government's $40 discount coupons. I already got my two coupons, bought my converter boxes and have the clearest reception I've ever had. I'm keeping my 36 inch TV because the digital picture looks great. I don't need an expensive wide screen. And I love that not only is my picture crystal clear, now I pick up more channels than ever before. I don't pay a dime for the signals. If folks could see what I see they'd be sold. Actually Charles, it only costs $20 if you get the government’s $40 discount coupons.
I already got my two coupons, bought my converter boxes and have the clearest reception I’ve ever had.

I’m keeping my 36 inch TV because the digital picture looks great. I don’t need an expensive wide screen.

And I love that not only is my picture crystal clear, now I pick up more channels than ever before.
I don’t pay a dime for the signals.

If folks could see what I see they’d be sold.

]]> By: Joe http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-826591 Joe Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:18:28 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-826591 Amazing. The TV industry shirks its responsibility to educate viewers on complicated subjects all the time, preferring light entertainment and irrelevant news. Then when they are forced to educate people about something that their very survival depends on, they fail miserably. Amazing. The TV industry shirks its responsibility to educate viewers on complicated subjects all the time, preferring light entertainment and irrelevant news. Then when they are forced to educate people about something that their very survival depends on, they fail miserably.

]]> By: Charles http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-826547 Charles Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:45:10 +0000 http://www.lostremote.com/2008/03/27/magid-dtv-awarness-up-but-so-is-confusion/#comment-826547 It IS kind of confusing. Many people think you HAVE to spend $5,000 or more for a nice plasma unit or something to get TV channels next year. When, in fact, just a $100 unit with an ATSC tuner works great. I have a TV with a analog and digital tuner, plus QAM, and it then cost about $120 at Wal-Mart. It's not HDTV, but it's got a flat screen and, for it's price range, GREAT color and clarity. HDTV isn't what it could be on a HDTV-TV, but, it's still like watching a DVD, but live. It IS kind of confusing. Many people think you HAVE to spend $5,000 or more for a nice plasma unit or something to get TV channels next year. When, in fact, just a $100 unit with an ATSC tuner works great. I have a TV with a analog and digital tuner, plus QAM, and it then cost about $120 at Wal-Mart. It’s not HDTV, but it’s got a flat screen and, for it’s price range, GREAT color and clarity. HDTV isn’t what it could be on a HDTV-TV, but, it’s still like watching a DVD, but live.

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