I don't know if this has already been said but I just saw the commercial. After 2009 you will need either satellite or cable to watch tv because the rabbit antennas won't work. :rolleyes: I have cable tv but I think it's wrong to force someone to have it.Not everyone can afford cable or satellite especially those on a fixed income such as senior citizens. http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/03/30/lawmakers-still-committed-to-2009-digital-tv-transition/

Lawmakers still committed to 2009 digital TV transition
Posted Mar 30th 2007 7:02PM by Richard Keller
Filed under: Industry, PVR Wire, Video

Folks, I hope that you're working on either buying a new digital television or are at least considering purchasing a box to convert your TV signals to digital, because the deadline for transitioning to this new technology is nearing and Congress isn't changing its mind. According to lawmakers in the House of Representatives, February 19, 2009 is still the deadline for the complete transition to digital TV. And, since it's coming from the United States government you know that it's for real!


Of course, there is the issue that the American public has no idea what the government is talking about. According to an article in the Washington Times only forty percent of us know that we are transitioning to digital TV, with a bare three percent knowing about the 2009 deadline. So, what to do? Well, there is the $1 billion (!) initiative by Congress that will provide forty dollar coupons to consumers so they can purchase a converter box that will turn their analog signals to digital. Then there's the $5 million digital education plan that was passed last year, which the current Congressional leadership thinks is woefully inadequate.

However, the real education for the estimated 70 million households still using analog TVs (you Luddites!) is going to need to be performed by the broadcasting, cable, electronic and retail industries, whose lives depend on it. Think about it, if there isn't a concerted effort to let everyone know about this analog-to-digital switch there are going to be a lot of dark television screens come February 19th. When that happens, people will actually start talking to each other and spending more time outdoors. Then, when they feel that it's too hot or too cold they'll realize it's a result of Global Warming and make a public push to eliminate greenhouse gases, which will make Earth a better place to live. Dry lake beds will fill with water, deserts will be green again, Christmas will be snowy, and everyone will be at peace.

Scary thoughts, huh? So, I'd start saving for that 37-inch flat-screen HDTV right now if I were you.

Tags: digital television, DigitalTelevision, House of REpresentatives, HouseOfRepresentatives, Washington Times, WashingtonTimes

It was bound to come sooner or later. Same thing happened to us when cassettes replaced vinyl albums, then CDs replaced cassettes, and now CDs are being replaced with MP3s

That's progress for ya!

One thing though, the price of digital cable and satellites are bound to come down drastically within the next couple of years as the competition builds.

I don't really think it's fair because it doesn't give customers a choice. I think this is a case of government making rules that go to far.

what will happen to all our Amalog station's in 2009

what will happen to all our Amalog station's in 2009


They will be automatically converted to digital at that time.

The only Local Affiliate I do not get in High Definition WVUE FOX 8 and that is because The Station was in the middle of being Sold befor Hurricane Katrina Hit my state and WVUE TV FOX 8 is still has not been sold at this time.

Thankfully I switched to satellite TV a few years ago.

Wait... does this even apply in Canada?

I hope that WVUE FOX 8 is sold soon so we will beable to get WVUE FOX 8 in High Definition.

Thankfully I switched to satellite TV a few years ago.

Wait... does this even apply in Canada?


Yes it does - both Canada and the U.S.. Like you, we've been on satellite (several types actually) for years and have a high def t.v. already so we'll be fine.

I can see it hurting some low & fixed income families at first maybe, but I'm sure it'll work the same as the example I gave for records, etc. above.

It does give you superior clarity for sure. I can't stand regular cable now (spoiled)!!

Yes it does - both Canada and the U.S.. Like you, we've been on satellite (several types actually) for years and have a high def t.v. already so we'll be fine.

I can see it hurting some low & fixed income families at first maybe, but I'm sure it'll work the same as the example I gave for records, etc. above.

It does give you superior clarity for sure. I can't stand regular cable now (spoiled)!!
So analog cable will be discontinued too? I know probably 5/4000 people around here that actually have digital cable or satellite. Everyone else is on basic cable.

So analog cable will be discontinued too? I know probably 5/4000 people around here that actually have digital cable or satellite. Everyone else is on basic cable.

Oh I know - especially out your way.

I think I heard that the cable companies will allow you to trade in your current box for a digital one - probably at little or no extra cost. However, I think you're t.v. has to be digital ready also. Wish my husband were around, he's knows it all about this topic (drove me nuts with it for about a year too ! :lol: )

'tis about time. This frees up the analog broadcast spectrum for emergency broadcasts as well as wireless broadband providers.

I don't know abt the fees for cable services going down. I thought that several years ago when our county acquired two more cable service companies. We thought, hey this should cut fees and give us flexibility to choose who we wanted for cable services. Then with the addition of satellite services and so forth, I thought that would help too. NOPE. Not in the least. The fees remain high. Just because you have more options, doesn't necessarily mean it will lower the cost of something.

Oh I know - especially out your way.

I think I heard that the cable companies will allow you to trade in your current box for a digital one - probably at little or no extra cost. However, I think you're t.v. has to be digital ready also. Wish my husband were around, he's knows it all about this topic (drove me nuts with it for about a year too ! :lol: )
Whoa...

"Out my way"? Newfoundland isn't in the stone age. :p

I have already upgraded to High Definition

Whoa...

"Out my way"? Newfoundland isn't in the stone age. :p


lol - no I know ;) I meant that let's face it, Nfld/Lab is one of, if not the poorest regions in Canada economically (not socially - you guys are the best for a good time!).

Although I'll bet a lot of people had those big ugly dishes if they didn't have cable available to them. Those weren't digital at all though - you have to buy new horns to upgrade them - we passed and just went to the small dishes.

Criminy there's a lot of misinformation out there.

From the top: IF you've purchased an HDTV at any point in the last couple years, you should be fine if you have an antenna and live within 50-75 miles of a TV station (depending on the station). Rabbit ears will continue to work, it's just that older TVs aren't capable of processing the newer digital signals.

A CONVERTER BOX WILL BE SOLD (and, supposedly, the US Government is planning to subsidize a large part of the cost of them) for those of you not parting with old TVs.

If you have cable or satellite, well, you're not really effected much at ALL. Both cable and satellite will continue business-as-normal in most places. A couple of cable companies *cough*Comcast*cough* have floated the idea of discontinuing analog cable, but this is being met with HUGE amounts of backlash. Most cable companies will continue analog cable just fine - downconverting TV stations to the analog level - regular channels like TBS and ESPN aren't affected at all. Satellite's pretty much the same.

I don't even think Canada's affected by the same February 2009 date as the US...
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Most cable companies and TV manufacturers are gambling on the public's general complete ignorance of the switchover - other than their awareness of it's existence - to sell a LOT of TVs and cable services in the next couple years.

lol - no I know ;) I meant that let's face it, Nfld/Lab is one of, if not the poorest regions in Canada economically (not socially - you guys are the best for a good time!).

Although I'll bet a lot of people had those big ugly dishes if they didn't have cable available to them. Those weren't digital at all though - you have to buy new horns to upgrade them - we passed and just went to the small dishes.
All of Atlantic Canada faces that same problem. It's not like we don't have enough money for cable and we're all living on the streets eating raw fish or anything. :rolleyes:

The only thing this will affect is anyone who gets their TV stations over the air., and doesn't have a ASTC tuner built in. All new ones do. You can get a converter box if your tv don't support it. Anyone with Cable or Satellite will not be affected by this at all.

The way things are going...I may just get the damn box.

im not paying $$$$ to pay for a converter when the TV works just FINE...govmt is supposed to listen to the people, and if the people dont want them to do this, then they SHOULDNT! :mad:

I'm all for it. And as stated before, if you don't use an antenna to get your tv, you have nothing to worry about.

We have satellite. I have an HDTV. Bring it on.

im not paying $$$$ to pay for a converter when the TV works just FINE...govmt is supposed to listen to the people, and if the people dont want them to do this, then they SHOULDNT! :mad:

And for every person who isn't a fan of this, there's a person like me who'd gladly shut off analog TV tomorrow if they got the chance. I have full-on HDTV, and I love it. About the only non-HD channel I watch even remotely regularly is GSN.

I need to buy an Hdtv. The prices have come down alot since they first hit the market. The pictures are amazing! I might give it a whirl.

Knew it was coming. Doesn't effect me at all, but I can see it being a burden to some people.

In the scheme of things it's almost a waste to continue broadcasting on analog though...It's pretty much completely obsolete.

My cable company's HD tier is still pretty limited, but I get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, NFL Network, Universal HD, HD Theater (formerly Discovery HD Theater), HDNet, and a couple other channels...And having those, I can honestly say that, aside from GSN and occasionally TV Land, I don't watch ANY standard-definition (SD) programming anymore.

I don't even think Canada's affected by the same February 2009 date as the US...
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Yes, we're on the same timeline. I understand Britian has already begun shutting down analog.

Plus when the analog is shut down, they are auctioning the spectrum off to cell phone carriers next year. And that spectrum is one that penetrates walls, so it will help will cell service also.

Plus when the analog is shut down, they are auctioning the spectrum off to cell phone carriers next year. And that spectrum is one that penetrates walls, so it will help will cell service also.


Yeah, I heard today we could have our cell phone rates (which are some of the highest in the developed world for some stupid reason) cut by 40%! Fantastic!