Remember when you had a box to adjust the outside antenna for each channel ? I had to do that until we got cable when it was first offered around 1982/83. How primitive it all seemed to be in those days.
I even remember as a little kid going to the tv store to get a Magnavox (around 1977 or so), and that was a BIG deal then. TVs were not cheap, and could cost upwards or over $1000 for a modest set (in ‘70s dollars). I always wanted a floor model back then, but my parents didn’t want to pay that kind of money.
RE Antenna:
Yes, I do remember those boxes. They also had the round “UHF Antenna” on them. Connected to the back of the TV with little spade connectors, and to a servo for the VHF antenna (the monster) on the roof.
We got “HBO” around 1983 as well; shortly after “First Blood” (Rambo) came out of the theaters; I remember it was one of the very first movies I got to see on HBO. It had it’s own separate antenna on the roof, and was also a small box with a backlit push button switch. I think we had to tune to channel 4 or some other empty channel.
Primitive now, yes, looking back; but back then, awesome!!! I was on a VHS taping frenzy for a few years after, getting a movie collection built... they’ve all been relegated to the trash heap, now.
I’m not sure how much our console TV cost, but I do remember it was a BIG deal for the folks to get it. They’d scrimped and saved for it. Dad had a stroke that summer, that’s why I remember it so well.
Funny how some things stand out in your mind, related to other events...