THE TV COLUMN : End of analog draws nearer
Posted on Sunday, October 21, 2007
It has been a while since I warned you about the coming change to all-digital TV signals, so here’s an update.
The bottom line remains the same. On Feb. 17, 2009, the nation switches over to all-digital TV signals. The current analog signals — the kind that have been around since TV was invented — will cease to exist.
Your old analog TV set with the antenna or rabbit ears will no longer get a picture.
To be precise, unless you’ve taken steps to receive the digital signals, when you turn on your old TV set on Feb. 18, 2009, all you’ll get is static. How do you prepare for the change ? There are three ways: 1. Buy a DTV converter box that will sit on top of your TV and convert the digital signal into analog for an existing television set. 2. Buy a new television set that has a built-in digital tuner. 3. Subscribe to a cable, satellite or telephone company television service provider. Their set-top boxes automatically convert the digital signal.
Find out everything you need to know at www. dtvanswers. com.
If you haven’t heard about the transition from analog to digital, that will soon change. The National Association of Broadcasters has announced it’s going to spend $ 697 million in a consumer campaign to make sure you get the message.
The association wants no surprises come Feb. 18.
What does $ 697 million get you ? There will be “DTV Action” spot commercials, crawlers across the bottom of the screen, half-hour educational programs about the transition, a 100-day countdown to DTV Day, a traveling road show to 600 locations, a speakers bureau, and banner ads on local TV station Web sites. We should be sick of the ads before they’re finished. All the broadcast networks as well as 95 broadcasting companies representing 939 TV stations will be involved. All this and I’m willing to bet some folks won’t get the message. David J. Barrett, president and chief executive officer of Hearst-Argyle Television Inc., says, “The DTV transition is among the most important milestones in the history of modern communications.”
Nancy Zirkin is vice president and director of public policy of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. Zirkin is looking at the bigger picture toward those most likely to be affected.
“The great switch from analog to digital TV will have a profound impact on millions of Americans,” Zirkin says, “especially senior [citizens ], the poor, minority communities, people with disabilities and those whose first language is not English.
“ We look forward to continuing to work with NAB to make sure these vulnerable populations don’t lose service after the transition.”
A National Urban League statement congratulates the association for its efforts to educate consumers, “especially minority populations, on the... switch. Early education is key to a successful transition, particularly for people of color, who will be disproportionately [affected ] by the switch.”
Currently, digital signals are airing along with analog. When the switch takes place, the old analog spectrum will be used for emergency and wireless operations and other uses.
If you’ve decided that now is a good time to go ahead and buy a new TV set, it should have a digital tuner built in.
For the past two years, all sets 35 inches or larger have been required to have digital tuners. Sets 25 inches or larger have been required to have digital tuners since March 2006. Since March of this year, all new TVs have been required to have the tuners.
Buyers beware: Stores can still sell their old analog TVs, so make sure you get a new one if you need a built-in tuner. What if you have a perfectly good analog TV that you’re quite happy with or can’t afford to buy a new TV set ? Relatively inexpensive converter boxes — between $ 50 and $ 70 — will be needed for each analog TV in your home. The government has set aside $ 1. 5 billion to help defray the cost. Beginning Jan. 1 each household can request up to two $ 40 coupons (one coupon per box ). Program note: Masterpiece Theatre on PBS and AETN will air the five-part “The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard” beginning at 8 p. m. today and running at the same time Sundays through Nov. 18. The kick-off to the 37 th season is “the tale of a British supermarket manager (Jane Horrocks ) who, fed up with politicians, decides to run for parliament and winds up prime minister.” I haven’t seen it, but The Times of London says it’s “great fun.” That is unless it’s one of those quotes taken out of context. The Times might have said, “This might have been ‘great fun’ were it not for the abysmal writing, acting, directing and cinematography.” I trust that’s not the case. The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. E-mail:
mstorey@arkansasonline. com
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