5 More Predictions for HDTV! (Say goodbye to Friday Night Lights on DIRECTV)

tvpredictions.com ^ | Jan., 1, 2009 | Phillip Swann

[savedbygrace]

FReepmail.

[RayChuang88]

The FCC has been pushing that low-cost converter program that allows you to watch digital broadcasts on older television sets. You can get US$40 vouchers that usually covers the cost of the converter boxes, and as such the conversion cost is essentially zero.

One nice thing about digital TV though: no more "ghosting" like you can get with analog over-air broadcasts.

[Eska]

Minus 55F here at 5am, luv the hdtv & samsung. My dir tv bill is around 250/month, worth every penny too in winter. I have super fan, & center ice, & all thhe fsn locaL sports channels; what drives bill up in winter; is only 120 in summer, when I never watch tv anyway.

I sure hope dir & dish don't merge; my bill would be 500 overnight. Don't trust the liars at dir and dish can't compete with dir prices.

I would really like to see availability of Junior Hockey like NHL on dir tv. I'd gladly pay another 400/yr to watch OHL teams play regular.

As much as old Cuban is a big dem; I really like HDN and his programming. Art Mann & ariel HD photography of BC & Ireland really is good stuff.

Another question? What's after 1080P & diamond series Mitsubs? How soon?

[N. Theknow]

I will be soooooooo glad when the switchover is complete.

Every time I see a commercial or PSA "warning" about the switchover, I can plan on a phone call within 5 minutes from my Mom asking if she is going to have a problem.

[Poser]

Maybe this is a city/country thing. I live in New Hampshire. I don’t know a single person who is still using an antenna to receive TV signals.

[Las Vegas Dave]

Another question? What's after 1080P & diamond series Mitsubs? How soon?

Sorry, my magic 8-ball is not working today...

[Dysart]

The government is not ready

Disaster?

Yep. Sounds about right for the roll out of a govt-mandated program.

So let's forge ahead, citizen!

[JimRed]

Feb. 17th is as good a time as any; not much happens between the Super Bowl and the NCAA Tournament anyway...gives ‘em time to sort it out.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

You are right. My Mom who is 83 this week has asked me a dozen times if she is going to have a problem. Each time I assure her that she is on Comcast and has no reason to worry. And then I cross my fingers that I am right on this.

[martin_fierro]

This transition was poorly conceived and even more poorly executed by the government and the industry. Now, they will have to pay the price for their mistakes.

I KNOW: LET'S GIVE 'EM A BAILOUT!

[buccaneer81]

There are millions of folks who sit down to watch their "programs" with no inkling of how that picture gets there. There will be absolute hysteria if they turn on the set and Judge Judy ain't on.

These people are also known as "those too stupid to vote." Anybody who hasn't heard about the DTV transition is beyond dense.

[buccaneer81]

Are there no stations in her area doing the 30 second DTV test? We've been seeing them weekly, often during the 6:00 and 11:00 news.

If she's on ComCast, or any cable system, she shouldn't notice a thing different.

[buccaneer81]

How can a little old lady understand what has happened when she sits down to watch a little TV like she has done for the last 40 years? This is going to be a mess and I feel sorry for the elderly who will definitely suffer.

It's been announced and in everyone's faces for well over a year.

Don't know about DTV = Too stupid to vote.

[buccaneer81]

27” is a SMALL screen?

The perception is a bit different with a flat panel TV. My living room is pretty small, and I have a 37". I would never buy smaller than that. Maybe 32" for the master bedroom.

[I Drive Too Fast]

Another question? What's after 1080P & diamond series Mitsubs? How soon?

I have heard they are working on 2160P. Technically there are 2160P's available now in the 52" size that would set you back $40,000. That is 40K and not 4K.

An 82" Samsung model is described as follows: The prototype display has a massive 82” size and features a resolution of 3820x2160 pixels, which results in a total screen resolution of 8.3 megapixels. Current 1080p TVs run at 1920x1080 pixels or 2.1 megapixels. According to the manufacturer, the TV integrates a red/green/blue LED backlight, which raises the color saturation to 150%. The image refresh rate is 120 Hz.

If you want to read about it go here. If you want to buy it you better win the lottery.

http://www.tgdaily.com/html_tmp/content-view-37511-97.html

Now if you really want to go bannanas then there is http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/05/nhk-shows-off-some-live-7680-x-4320-super-hi-vision-tv-in/

NHK shows off some live 7680 x 4320 "Super Hi-Vision" TV in Japan running at 7680 x 4320 — 16 times the resolution of that lame old 1080i your grandparents are talking about.

[TruthWillWin]

2. The Digital TV Transition Will Be a Disaster
On February 17, 2009, all full-powered local TV stations will switch from analog to digital signals, meaning viewers will need a Digital TV, a converter box or a pay TV service to keep watching television. However, all signs point to a looming disaster when the transition occurs.

I think not. Sounds a little like the "chicken little" sky is falling mentality of the Y2K non-event. The problems with the changeover will be very minor.

My prediction. Cable/DirecTV/Dish will all lose 5-10% of subscriptions to consumers purchasing antennas' to take advantage of the excellent pitcher quality of free OTA digital signals. The economic situation will help make this occur.

[edge10]

I concur. The transition has been handled as well as it could be (amazingly so considering the government is involved). All the whining and gnashing of teeth is garbage, it’s been the 21st century for most of a decade, time to shut off the analog band!

[edge10]

Wow! I have the same feeling about DirecTV. I was with Dish, then I signed up DirecTV and was lied to over an over. Once they had me installed, they finally gave me the truth. I cancelled within 24 hours, they took my money anyway. After several calls and preliminary talks with my bank, they finally refunded the wrongly taken ‘early termination fee’.

I don’t love Charlie Ergen at Dish, but will probably go back sooner than later.

[savedbygrace]

But will American Idol still be on then?

I predict 2 to 6 million people (400,000 to 2 million households) will be unable to get their TV shows on 2/18. How many of those will be Idol fans?

Yup, it’ll be a disaster.

[PA Engineer]

I have an AppleTV and love it!! Several people I know have one and they all love them! Why don’t you??

Installed ours a week ago. Truly a revolutionary device. AppleTV is the future. I am surprised Apple has not promoted this to the extent of the iPhone and iPod.