I’ll bet there a ‘green’ element in this new digital plan. Keeping transmitter power down at the expense of coverage is likely to be widespread.
May also be about phasing out over-the-air broadcasts that cannot be charged for, in favor of satellite and cable distribution that is fee based. More interference and more critical antennas needed, people will just give up and pay for a controlled distribution source.
Reception here and out at the mom’s house in the country — mostly nonexistent. The local CBS and ABC stations don’t come in at all at mom’s, FOX is usually fine, NBC is kinda lousy, PBS (line of sight with the broadcast aerial) and the biggest evangelical station come in great. Here in the city, no CBS, no ABC, NBC and FOX are fine, PBS is usually okay.