Anyone here still use an antenna to get their TV signal? Feb.17 the analog signal is turned off

[in_cog_ni_to]

and you will need a converter box. It sounds like the industry is not prepared for the demand that will come.

Best Buy Nervous About TV Conversion
7 hours ago

LAS VEGAS — Best Buy Inc.'s chief executive said Tuesday that he is "very nervous" about being able to supply customers with the millions of digital TV converter boxes needed ahead of the shutdown of most analog TV transmissions in 13 months.

"I think it's one of the biggest risks our industry has," vice chairman and CEO Brad Anderson told an industry audience at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Full-power television stations will turn off their analog signal on Feb. 17, 2009, after which they will broadcast in digital only. Viewers who receive their signals through an antenna instead of cable or satellite and don't have a digital-ready TV will have to buy a converter.

The Nielsen Co. estimates that 14.3 million households rely on over-the-air television broadcasts for programming. Still others have sets that receive analog broadcasts as a complement to cable, satellite or digital sets in the same household.

"The number of converter boxes that is going to be required could put tremendous pressure on us to solve all those problems" in a short time, said Anderson.

"We're very nervous about the potential risk. Once it gets turned off, it could be very interesting," he added.

Apart from the supply issue, customer education looms as a problem for the retailers. Speaking on the same panel, Phil Schoonover, the CEO of Circuit City Stores Inc. said Anderson's caution was appropriate. He contrasted the digital TV transition to the introduction of high-definition television sets, which mainly attracted the well-heeled and technically savvy.<snip>

http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/general/2008/01/09/Gadget.Show.DTV/

[Didereaux]

1. 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Well, that makes this even stranger. Why wouldn't they be prepared for this by Feb. 2009?

Hmmmm....

[riqster]

11. They'd rather sell us new TVs than converters for our old ones

...so the industry isn't making enough converters at present.

I never watch anything but Cleveland sports and the weather, so I could give a rat's ass myself. But lots of people DO watch TV and have old sets that they can't afford to replace.

[Occulus]

13. Also, understanding WHY the converters are needed is a big problem

Each and every single time I mention this to people, they're all, "WHAT??" and then I have to go and explain it all.

I heard there were going to be vouchers provided for something like $40 toward buying the boxes. Is there any truth to that?

[onenote]

17. yes, you can already apply for the vouchers. But don't do so yet.

The problem isn't going to be that converters won't be manufacturered in sufficient quantity (although local shortages and delays probably will occur). The government has certified 250 retailers with over 15,000 outlets nationwide to sell simple converters that will allow someone to keep using their analog television to receive over the air broadcasts. The governement also is finishing testing on 19 differnet converters that will qualify for rebates under the coupon program.

Here's where things are going to get messy. The program allowing consumers to receive two $40 off coupons for these converters is already in place (see ntia.gov). You can apply and, in fact, over a million people already have. The coupons will start going out in the mail in mid-February. But there aren't any boxes in stores yet -- and the coupons expires after 90 days. FOr some of the folks who asked for coupons early because they heard about the program, they're going to be pissed that they are under a time deadline to buy the converter, especially when the converters aren't even in the stores yet.

There will be considerable confusion on this and when people realize that they have to use the coupon within 90 days, a lot will decide to wait until the last minute (figuring that maybe the boxes will go on sale next Christmas). Its going to be,as they say, a clusterfuck.

[Didereaux]

8. Quick buy Alcoa and Reynolds stock heh

[Hokie]

2. 2009 that is

This was supposed to happen in 2006 but the deadline was extended because digital tv's were slow to catch on. I will bet all takers that it will be extended at least once more.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Hmm

just another reason to stop watching TV.

[stellanoir]

4. It's next year.

[mike_c]

5. turn it off, baby....

Turn it all off. TV sucks.

[Enrique]

7. I fear some unexpected electromagnetic effect on our world

all those waves have been bouncing around our atmosphere for longer than most of us were born, and suddenly they will stop. :scared:

[Tesha]

12. No, they won't stop, they'll just be for sale to the highest bidder.

The "spectrum" that Television previously occupied
for (nominally) free will now be sold for commercial
uses.

Tesha

[jakefrep]

9. Of course, Best Buy and Circuit City....

would rather sell us overpriced and overhyped HDTV's than the converter boxes.

[Occulus]

16. Not so overhyped

I got a Samsung 50" DLP set last year and it is da BOMB, especially for use as a computer monitor and gaming display.

Jaw-dropping, really. But not everyone can afford them, and if I hadn't gotten an 18 moths no payment or interest deal I would never have bought it in the first place. Still, I won't have to buy a new TV for a very long time, if ever.

[Auggie]

10. Huge recycling nightmare

I have a battery-operated portable I keep for earthquakes -- no way a converter will work on it. It'll be useless in 2009.

[Javaman]

14. So will analog tv be like AM radio now? nt

[Phillycat]

19. Except you can still get AM radio.

If I'm reading this right, the air TV is just going to...go away.

[Javaman]

21. Oh that freaks me out...

just goes away...poof!

[alfredo]

15. I have one sitting next to my computer monitor. I guess I can use it

with my PS2.

Hopefully I will be able to get more streamed video on the internet like what MSNBC has offered during the primaries.

[Occulus]

18. If your TV and your monitor are that close,

you might want to consider getting a TV card for your PC. I think Hauppage makes cards that have HD tuners.

after looking at my local computer shop's website, I guess I was right. Of course, that depends on getting the signals in the first place, so you have to live in an area that has cable or satellite access.

Actually, getting a TV card is a great option if you don't have or don't use a TV. Most of them- including the one I link to above- come with TV scheduler software and the option to record in multiple formats, sizes, and rates of compression, so they actually act like a Tivo that you don't have to subscribe to.

[alfredo]

22. I have a TV upstairs I use if I want to watch HBO or other such wastes

of time. Of course IFC and Sundance are not a waste of time.

[B Calm]

20. I have DirecTV and they won't give me my local channels. If I

lived an area that provides cable TV they would give my my local channels. I know it doesn't make sense to me either. Since I live out in the boondocks I have to rely on an antenna to get my local news. The reception sucks and I'll be damn if I'm going to buy a converter box to receive lousy reception.