Apsattv
31-01-2008, 10:42 PM
From http://www.dailymail.com/Life/200801250188
Analog signals are going dark, so some television viewers must make a change
Since the dawn of television, viewers have been able to receive local channels by putting rabbit-ear antennas on their sets or rooftops, even after the onset of cable.
.. The Federal Communications Commission is requiring all broadcasters to end transmissions of analog signals by Feb. 17, 2009. On that morning, TVs receiving signals via rooftop or rabbit-ear antennas will go fuzzy.
Next year, that's all going to change.
In a largely rural state like West Virginia, there may be a surprising number of people affected. One official puts the number at 16 percent of state residents.
The Federal Communications Commission is requiring all broadcasters to end transmissions of analog signals by Feb. 17, 2009.
On that morning, TVs receiving signals via rooftop or rabbit-ear antennas will go fuzzy.
Those who receive programming through cable or satellite will not be affected.
The switch will liberate the analog spectrum for wireless and local public safety communications.
"It's the biggest thing to happen in the history of radio and TV in the United States," said Corley Dennison, dean of Marshall University's School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
"This is the first time I'm aware that the FCC has forced the consumer to make a change."
Digital technology uses airwaves more efficiently and allows more bandwidth. More information can be carried on a digitally compressed signal than on an analog one.
Viewers will benefit from better picture quality, but they will incur some expense.
The lowest cost option is to buy a digital-to-analog converter box. Many retailers, such as Best Buy and Circuit City, are offering deals on the boxes, which range in price from $80 to $200.
To assist consumers through the conversion, the U.S. government is taking requests for up to two $40 coupons for viewers to use toward the purchase of the converter boxes.
Information about the coupons is available at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's web site, http://www.dtv2009.gov/. The phone number is 1-888-DTV-2009.
Using such a converter box will give viewers access to a few more channels than they receive through their antennas. The use of digital technology lets local stations broadcast more channels. WSAZ's sister channel, My Z TV, is an example.
Antenna users also can opt to subscribe to cable or satellite, if those services are available where they live. That likely would entail some upfront costs and definitely a monthly bill. But in addition to better picture quality, viewers would receive a far greater choice of channels.
Still another alternative is to invest in a new high-definition TV set and antenna that can pick up digital signals. Those two items likely would cost close to $1,000.
That option would provide the best picture quality available and the same extra channels that the converter box would provide.
Dennison estimates about 16 percent of people in the state use analog antennas to receive programming.
All local stations, including WSAZ, WCHS, WVAH, WOWK and public television, already broadcast digital signals.
Local TV stations are working hard to educate the public about the switch. Public broadcasting and WCHS have devoted sections of their Web sites to the issue.
WSAZ has been running commercials explaining the switch. The station has a countdown clock on its Web site.
"We are spending a lot of our air time telling people that this is going to happen," said WSAZ General Manager Don Ray.
"The government already has plans for the analog spectrum, and we know we're going to lose it. Now we just have to tell the public."
WSAZ representatives will speak about the change during a meeting of the West Virginia Association of Counties at the Charleston Marriott on Feb. 12. The station also will have a booth at its annual Home and Garden Show at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington in March.
Ray said the popularity of high-definition TV sets has helped the cause significantly.
WSAZ currently broadcasts its sister station, My Z, on its digital sub-channel, 3.2. WOWK gives viewers a Doppler weather radar map 24 hours a day on its sub-channel, 13.2.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting has four digital sub-channels with extra programming.
Dennison said the digital switch is not just limited to the United States. Germany began its analog switch in 2002. Great Britain initiated its switch in 2005. Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands completed the switch last year.
The United States, Canada, Australia, Spain, China and Japan are just some of many countries that have not made the transition.
Dennison predicts talk of the change will heat up in the United States this summer.
"People are going to start needing to think ahead," Dennison said. "A significant amount of things need to be done to get the word out that this is going to happen."
Analog signals are going dark, so some television viewers must make a change
Since the dawn of television, viewers have been able to receive local channels by putting rabbit-ear antennas on their sets or rooftops, even after the onset of cable.
.. The Federal Communications Commission is requiring all broadcasters to end transmissions of analog signals by Feb. 17, 2009. On that morning, TVs receiving signals via rooftop or rabbit-ear antennas will go fuzzy.
Next year, that's all going to change.
In a largely rural state like West Virginia, there may be a surprising number of people affected. One official puts the number at 16 percent of state residents.
The Federal Communications Commission is requiring all broadcasters to end transmissions of analog signals by Feb. 17, 2009.
On that morning, TVs receiving signals via rooftop or rabbit-ear antennas will go fuzzy.
Those who receive programming through cable or satellite will not be affected.
The switch will liberate the analog spectrum for wireless and local public safety communications.
"It's the biggest thing to happen in the history of radio and TV in the United States," said Corley Dennison, dean of Marshall University's School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
"This is the first time I'm aware that the FCC has forced the consumer to make a change."
Digital technology uses airwaves more efficiently and allows more bandwidth. More information can be carried on a digitally compressed signal than on an analog one.
Viewers will benefit from better picture quality, but they will incur some expense.
The lowest cost option is to buy a digital-to-analog converter box. Many retailers, such as Best Buy and Circuit City, are offering deals on the boxes, which range in price from $80 to $200.
To assist consumers through the conversion, the U.S. government is taking requests for up to two $40 coupons for viewers to use toward the purchase of the converter boxes.
Information about the coupons is available at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's web site, http://www.dtv2009.gov/. The phone number is 1-888-DTV-2009.
Using such a converter box will give viewers access to a few more channels than they receive through their antennas. The use of digital technology lets local stations broadcast more channels. WSAZ's sister channel, My Z TV, is an example.
Antenna users also can opt to subscribe to cable or satellite, if those services are available where they live. That likely would entail some upfront costs and definitely a monthly bill. But in addition to better picture quality, viewers would receive a far greater choice of channels.
Still another alternative is to invest in a new high-definition TV set and antenna that can pick up digital signals. Those two items likely would cost close to $1,000.
That option would provide the best picture quality available and the same extra channels that the converter box would provide.
Dennison estimates about 16 percent of people in the state use analog antennas to receive programming.
All local stations, including WSAZ, WCHS, WVAH, WOWK and public television, already broadcast digital signals.
Local TV stations are working hard to educate the public about the switch. Public broadcasting and WCHS have devoted sections of their Web sites to the issue.
WSAZ has been running commercials explaining the switch. The station has a countdown clock on its Web site.
"We are spending a lot of our air time telling people that this is going to happen," said WSAZ General Manager Don Ray.
"The government already has plans for the analog spectrum, and we know we're going to lose it. Now we just have to tell the public."
WSAZ representatives will speak about the change during a meeting of the West Virginia Association of Counties at the Charleston Marriott on Feb. 12. The station also will have a booth at its annual Home and Garden Show at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington in March.
Ray said the popularity of high-definition TV sets has helped the cause significantly.
WSAZ currently broadcasts its sister station, My Z, on its digital sub-channel, 3.2. WOWK gives viewers a Doppler weather radar map 24 hours a day on its sub-channel, 13.2.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting has four digital sub-channels with extra programming.
Dennison said the digital switch is not just limited to the United States. Germany began its analog switch in 2002. Great Britain initiated its switch in 2005. Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands completed the switch last year.
The United States, Canada, Australia, Spain, China and Japan are just some of many countries that have not made the transition.
Dennison predicts talk of the change will heat up in the United States this summer.
"People are going to start needing to think ahead," Dennison said. "A significant amount of things need to be done to get the word out that this is going to happen."