Best Buy ends sales of analog TVs

[onehandle]

Source: AP

MINNEAPOLIS - Best Buy Co. said Wednesday it has stopped selling analog televisions and pulled all remaining stock from its shelves, signalling the end of an era as consumers increasingly move toward digital products with flat-panel and high-definition screens.

Best Buy, one of the nation's top electronics retailers, heralded the reign of digital TVs, saying it made the move "as the end of the analog broadcast era draws near." Best Buy instructed stores to stop selling the products on Oct. 1.

Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, broadcasters will stop transmitting analog signals.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21344084/

[ThoughtCriminal]

1. Sold our big analog TV last month

disposing of these things is probably going to be a problem.

[onehandle]

2. I gave our last big tube to a friend about three or four years ago.

200lb 35" Mitsubishi.

Wasn't worth selling.

[barb162]

42. May I ask what you got? Did you put an ad in the paper?

I just threw one out/ put it on the curb for weekly disposal.Someone came by and got it before it got dark; it was one the curb for about an hour. I put a sign on it saying "works well" which it did.

[LisaM]

3. Will the digital signal be available without cable or satellite?

Really, I'm very ignorant about all this, other than the fact it doesn't seem right to render millions of televisions obsolete overnight.

But, if the answer to my question is "no", then what happens to a free medium?

BTW, I don't like digitized programming. Occasionally, a movie I'm watching (especially an old one) freezes up, and sometimes the picture scrambles into a bunch of squares, then hiccups.

[glowing]

4. that sounds like a satellite

[LisaM]

6. Maybe - I don't have a satellite dish

So I'm not sure. It's annoying, though.

[mcscajun]

41. Cable is the means of delivery into your home. Cable companies

use big satellite dishes to get their signals so they can deliver them to you.

[Occulus]

33. It used to happen quite a bit with Charter (my cable company)

I haven't seen the squares/freezes in a while though. My guess is, your cable company needs to upgrade its hardware.

[OnyxCollie]

5. I noticed that more when I had digital cable.

I haven't seen it since I switched to satellite.

[Eric J in MN]

7. A converter box will be needed to watch TV without cable or satellite.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17590648/

[Tempest]

29. A converter box is only needed for analog TVs

HD TVs can get the signals with just an antenna.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. You can pick up digital with a special antennae if your locals broadcast DTV

If your set is digital that is.

Old analogs will be obsolete Feb.17, 2009.

From a local DTV guru.

"However, you can request a coupon sponsored by the federal government which will be redeemable at electronics retailers for a set top box which will convert the digital signals into a usable format by your old set. The only benefit to consumers will be that the reception of the signal will be akin to characteristics of a digital signal; i.e., the box will produce a good signal until the signal strength is no longer at a sufficient threshold to make pictures. There will be no improvement in picture quality."

[RantinRavin]

23. No special antenna needed

I pick up local DTV broadcasts using nothing more than a piece of wire for an antenna.

[jordi_fanclub]

27. Exactly! As example, in the UK the antenna and tuner is like this...

Starting at just 5 bucks the antenna and 30 the tuner!


(I picked to this example the eBay item # 130164449705)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

35. That may just be needed in my area

I don't get locals on a regular antenna and they had me buy a special one for the DTV. I assumed (always a mistake) that everyone had to.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

9. Yup

There are all manner of digital/HDTV antennae available.

I haven't switched yet, but supposedly the digital signal/antennae work much better than the analog ones do.

[enki23]

13. we just cancelled cable, and now we actually get HD signals for free

of course, it's only a few local stations. but hey, they're free. it's nice to have a couple different PBS stations, if nothing else. and yes, the digital signals are far superior to the analog, until you fall below the threshold and lose the feed completely. the analog signal will be fuzzy crap while the digital signal gives you a crystal clear image which occasionally tears and blinks out.

[EST]

10. The answer is yes.

Although analog tv signals will be curtailed, due to their wasteful use of precious spectrum, most of the current broadcasters of "free tv" plan to continue their operation and to offer digital transmissions. There are available digital converters that will work perfectly well to translate the new, all digital, signals to the analog ones that older sets require.
Those converters are not very expensive, compared to a new tv, and there are even some plans to give them away, or, at worst, charge a minimal, nominal amount.

[Kolesar]

16. Viewers will be out of luck if they are in fringe reception areas

I have been in a few places where I was "happy" to watch the news or weather on a snowy TV. With digital, I think that weak signal will be below the threshold and not even give a video signal.

Too bad. Have to buy satellite or something if you have the money.

[EST]

21. Yep.

Just as with cell phones and other sources of digital transmissions, the concept of "fringe" areas is no longer valid. If there is insufficient signal for a "solid" transmission, it won't work at all, rather than getting by on a shitty signal.

If you are in an area (as am I) where the tv signals are pretty far down in the mud, though still usable with analog reception, you're just S O L.
That's the reason I went to satellite, with a few moderately local channels re-transmitted.

It sucks, but that's what it is.

[Tunkamerica]

11. you will need a special converter.

the government will have a program starting soon that will reimburse you for most of the cost of these converters. the info. is on fcc.gov i believe.

[MercutioATC]

14. Only if you have an old TV with an analog tuner....

...which is why some retailers are not stocking analog TVs any more....

If you have a TV with a digital tuner, the broadcast signal will work fine without a converter.

[Clanfear]

12. Answer

Without cable or sat you will need a coverter box, which the government is supposedly going to subsidize. The "free medium" will still be there if you have an ATSC tuner.

I am curious though as to your comment about pixelation. While it is true that poor signal strength leads to that occurance, on ewould have to be receiving a digital signal. Without cable, sat, or an ATSC(digital tuner) you should not be getting that signal.

[LisaM]

18. I have digital cable

I just figured that the problem was a digital one, because of the signal scrambling into squares.

[Clanfear]

26. It is a signal strength issue.

You are either getting too much or too little signal from you provider. I would call them and have them correct it.

[HomerRamone]

15. Feds unveil digital-TV subsidy details

WASHINGTON--Americans who want a converter box permitting older televisions to receive digital broadcasts will be eligible for federal subsidies, according to new rules announced Monday that clear up some confusion about how the program will work.
http://www.news.com/Feds-unveil-digital-TV-subsidy-details/2100-1028_3-6166416.html

[Kolesar]

17. Digital-to-analog converters have been "slow" to come down in price

I remember looking them up years ago and they cost many hundreds of dollars. The ones designed for an HD-ready TV could cost $500 to $800. $800 For a product with no moving parts!

[tammywammy]

37. Thanks for the link!

That's good to know. I have older tvs and no plans to upgrade and I use good ol' rabbit ears. :)

[happyslug]

55. The actual Federal rules published on March 15, 2007

http://frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=713222400867+2+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

Regulations for the Converters:
http://frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=713222400867+12+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

The FCC Comment son the Coupons (limited to $40):
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/

Rules to implement the Coupon Rules::
http://frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=713222400867+31+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

[Tempest]

28. Yes

You can get the signal through an interior or exterior antenna designed for HD signals.

You can get one for anywhere from $30 to $300.

I'm getting digital programming from the network stations now with only an interior antenna.

[gasperc]

30. if you have cable or sat, you don't need a new TV

if you want over the air TV in 2009 with your old set, you'll need a converter box. Or you can buy a new HD ready TV.

[mcscajun]

40. With a digital TV, you'll be able to get digital broadcast signals.

Analog Broadcast (what we all used to receive before the days of cable/satellite) signals will go the way of the dodo at the deadline date.

Without a digital TV, i.e, the plain old set you've got now, you'll need a digital converter box to get the new broadcast signals.

If you have Cable or Satellite, you're already set.

[LiberalFighter]

45. I have one of those indoor outdoor antenna to pick up the local stations

It picks up both analog and digital signals.

I do need to get the antenna up higher cause I lose the signal every once in a while.

Here some of the stations have 1 or more additional stations broadcasting other programs. At least two dedicate a station for weather related programming.

Example one station has their main programming on 15.1 other programming on 15.2 and weather on 15.3

There is a difference in clarity between digital and analog. And there is a difference between digital and cable. Although cable might be as good if you have the digital package which I don't.

[onenote]

53. yes. If you have a proper antenna.

You can even continue to use your analog tv if you purchase a set top device that converts the digital signal to analog. They should be available in stores next year for around $60 with a $40 rebate coupon available from the govt.

[happyslug]

54. The present plan is to broadcast in Digital over the airwaves

People with older analog sets will have to buy a converter. The FCC says such converters will be available, but let see.

The Chief reason for the switch is for every Analog channel closed down, you open up the airwaves for four Digital channels (Improved Picture quality is a factor, but given that over the last 40 years US broadcasters have NOT broadcast up to the limit in Analog, the same till occur with Digital i.e. Quality of the broadcast will be "better" then it is now, but no where near what Europe and other countries with Government owned stations have.

[Touchdown]

57. Yes. Ariel antennas work, and local signals are there now.

At least in larger cities.

No old TV will be obsolete. The Government has authorized $20 subsidies for lower income folks to get analog to digital converter box, so that their old TVs will still get the new signals.

The pixelization/freezing depends on the strength of the signal. Just like ghosting/moire/snow with analog, digital has it's share of reception problems too.

[backscatter712]

19. I've been hearing the siren call of 42" plasma myself.

Gonna have to save my pennies though, they're still $1,000+ a piece.

That and when I get one, I'm gonna want a decent sound system to go with it, and DVD, and a hi-def cable tuner, and DVR, etc.

[sandyj999]

32. You Won't Regret It. n/t

[Occulus]

34. Unless you're planning on hanging it on the wall

go with a DLP set.

Pros:

comparable prices to LCD, LCOS, and plasma
immune to screen burn (long periods of stationary images can burn the image into the screen when using LCOS, LCD, or plasma)
lightweight (my 50" Samsung DLP set weighs an incredibly light 65 pounds)
higher contrast ratio (mine has a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, which is described as "admirable" or "ideal" by every article I've read on the subject)
no "screen door" effect vs LCD
immune to "pixel death"
many DLP sets support up to 1080p resolution, not just 720p or 1080i

cons:

lamps *can* burn out and aren't rated for as long a period of time vs. LCD, LCOS, or plasma (although newer DLP sets use white LED lamps, dramatically increasing the lamp lifetime)
deeper cabinet than LCOS, LCD, or plasma (cannot be hung up on a wall)
turn themselves off in high-heat situations to preserve the lamp (mine goes black at ambient temps of 83 deg. F or above)
has moving parts (spinning color wheel)

I use my Samsung almost exclusively for DVDs, HD movies (and GOD it looks incredible), gaming, and as my primary PC monitor. I just LOVE having my desktop running at 1920x1080, and the real estate on the screen is a huge plus for graphics applications such as the GIMP and Blender. MAny, if not most, PC games can run at this resolution, making for a truly theatrical gaming experience.

A local theater near me uses DLP projectors on all its digital screens, and after seeing one film there I truly, honestly do feel more as if I'm in a theater when I'm at home (when watching my DLP set), just by comparing the visual quality to that of the theater. The DLP set I bought was quite honestly the best picture in the store, including all the LCD, LCOS, and plasma screens. The picture is ridiculously bright- so much so, I can easily read a paper page of text by the light of the Google page at more than eight feet away. :P

I won't have to buy another TV for at least ten years- 50" is plenty for me (these now go above 70").

[Warren DeMontague]

43. DLP is great IF you're not one of the people who the light processing seriously bugs.

Some people get headaches. It's got something to do with the little spinning mirrors they use to break up the color signals, or something. If you're not one of those people, DLP is probably the best way to go. Take it for a test drive to be sure!

For my money, Sony's rear-projection LCOS tvs are pretty bad-ass, too.

[Kolesar]

52. I have heard that plasma TVs are high energy users

You might wish to check on the input power requirements. For comparison, this 31" CRT TV that somebody gave us uses about 150 Watts, and .5 watts in standby mode. It was from ~2003 and it has an Energy Star rating. :)

[Touchdown]

59. Plasmas have a VERY short lifespan.

Based on 8 hours a day useage, the life is about 5 years, tops. They can't be repaired. They're just trash after they die. They are also useless at 7,000 feet above sea level (I live in Colorado, so it is important here, so there!!!).

If your looking for flat panels, you should check out LCD TVs, or the poster above's recommendation for DLP. Samsung has a new line of DLPs and LCDs that don't use lamps, so replacements for them are a thing of the past.

[Enrique]

20. we'll have to go to Circuit City

:hide:

[jordi_fanclub]

22. The digital tuner box is VERY cheap... at least in Europe!

Just search in eBay for: TDT (Television Digital Terrestre)
Or for the DTV tuner... in spanish: +Sintonizador +TDT

The same is valid to all EU countries and to more than 80 countries worldwide.
A link with good info about is here: http://www.dvb.org/about_dvb/dvb_worldwide/

The corporate USA follows a different standard but the price should also start at $40 or $50.

[Trillo]

24. I've noted in Costco

that the prices for flat-panel TVs, while having come down in cost somewhat over the last 5 years, still are significantly higher in cost than the old style TVs. Often over $1000.

$400 would have bought a nice 25" analog TV.

Feeling the squeeze of inflation yet?

[Clanfear]

25. I wouldn't call it inflation.

The flat panel TV's have come down more than 50% during that time period you mentioned. You are talking two very different technologies, one that is have been around for 50 years and another for a little over 7 years. The difference is based upon the cost in the manifacturering process, not really inflation.

[LiberalFighter]

46. You can probably get a 36" HDTV for about that price on sale.

[slampoet]

31. Who CARES? Best Buy doesn't sell Color Laser printers Either.

They also don't carry almost any speaker wire, audio adapters, they never seem to have optical cables even though most stereo components use it these days, no Macintosh gear, no stereo microphones, the list of things that they don't sell and consumers still use is a VERY long list.

There are at least 40 things on their website that I've never seen actually stocked in stores.


Just an other shoddy company trying to act like they are the only ones on the planet in their press release and a LAZY REPORTER acting like this is a news story instead of the reporter actually working for a living.

[CatholicEdHead]

36. Some stores do

It varies on the store and the stock at the time. When I bought my HP 1020 Laserjet, there was a color HP laser right next to it running $300 or so.

[LiberalFighter]

47. IMO color laserjets are too expensive when considering

the cost of the toner needed. Anywhere from $80 to $100 for each color. I believe it is black, red, cyan and yellow. Count that. 4 toners are needed.

[pstokely]

49. They also don't sell any computer without Windows Vista

Like most big box stores

[mc jazz]

38. Get your tube TV while you can.. still cheaper than flatscreen

I talked my ol' man out of buying a flatscreen to replace the 17" wooden 'thing' that now graces my lounge. He got what he wanted, a TV and vcr/dvd player and cheaper than a flatscreen tv
They didn't want to sell it to him though!

[pinniped]

39. Comcrap is raising basic cable rates by 5%, too.

These scumbags can't wait to push you into higher priced cable packages.

[L0oniX]

44. You can still use them for satellite tv.

[pstokely]

48. I can't afford a good LCD with an HD tuner yet

The cheaper LCDs don't have HD tuners. Analog programming looks worse on LCD sets.

[Swamp Rat]

50. WARNING!!! THEY broadcast via digital TV.

If you use a digital TV, THEY will control your mind. :hide:

[apex nerd]

51. If you bought any TV made after March 1, 2007

then you already have a digital tuner.

http://www.dtv.gov/whatisdtv.html

[slackmaster]

56. This is an interesting and historic milestone

It's one of those moments like when sales of color TVs surpassed black and white sets. Or when UHF tuners became standard equipment. Or when vacuum tubes were largely replaced by solid-state components.

Thanks for posting it, onehandle.

[LTR]

58. Some consumer advice here

If you go out shopping for a new TV, make sure it is compatible with DTV. Some models may still be on clearance, though as a previous poster said, all TVs made since March are compatible.

Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal-Mart and Target post warning labels next to the demos of older product that is not DTV-compatible. These would be mostly older tube TVs (and some flatscreen/LCD), portable units (those $20 black and white deals with 5" screens) and the cheapie clearance deals. Look for the label or ask a sales clerk. You can still buy these, often for insanely cheap prices, but you'll need a converter or cable/satellite box after February 2009 (if the current analog shut-off date is not postponed). Otherwise, they're basically obsolete.

I have also found that DTVs are getting cheaper and cheaper. Lots of decent quality LCD sets can be found for the same price that comparably-sized non-DTV sets were previously going for. For instance, I bought a 27" set five years ago for $300, and could probably find something comparable in LCD for close to the same price or slightly higher now.

As for the analog shutoff, this is not some sort of fiendish plot by the government. Some countries have already completely shut down analog TV. Most other countries are in the process of doing so. And the majority of Europe will be all-digital within the next couple years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_television
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_television