Posted on 04/14/2007 2:11:47 AM PDT by Las Vegas Dave
Washington, D.C. (April 11, 2007) -- FCC Chairman Kevin Martin reportedly will propose that cable TV operators be forced to carry both analog and digital signals broadcast by a local station when the nation switches to Digital TV.
As of now, cable will be required to carry only the digital signal when the switch occurs on February 17, 2009. Several cable TV operators have said they will continue broadcasting the analog signals for a period of time but Martin apparently wants to make that law.
Many industry observers are fearful that analog TV owners will be unable to watch TV when the transition occurs.
However, if approved, Martin's proposal could hurt cable TV's efforts to expand their high-def lineups. If they are forced to broadcast the analog signals for a longer period of time, they may have less room for more HD channels during that time.
The law could also become a disincentive for cable subscribers to switch from analog to digital because they might think the analog signals will be there indefinitely.
Comcast is now urging customers in some cities to switch from analog to digital, saying that new digital boxes will offer 125 high-def channels in 2008. As part of its persuasion campaign, the cable operator is alerting subscribers that the Digital TV switch is set for 2009.
Brian Dietz, a spokesman for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, blasted Martin's plan today, although he did not address its possible impact on HD.
Dietz said the plan would force consumers to "rent a set-top box they may not want." according to Broadcasting & Cable Magazine.
To get both the analog and digital signals, the NCTA seems to be saying, consumers would need a set-top rather than using a CableCard or another means of connecting.
Martin's plan, first reported by Multichannel News this week, would apparently become effective after the nation switches to Digital TV on February 17, 2009.
"We have repeatedly assured Congress and the federal government that we’ll continue to deliver broadcast signals to cable’s analog customers after the February 2009 transition. The right approach to ensuring a seamless digital transition is a collaborative process that doesn't reach premature conclusions that will jeopardize our efforts to assist cable’s 65 million customers," Dietz said.
The pinged subjects will be those of HDTV technology, satellite/cable HD, OTA (over the air with various roof top and indoor antennas) HD reception. Broadcast specials and any and all subjects relating to HD.
Pinging the list!
I know people who are still watching tv with an antenna. LOL
“I know people who are still watching tv with an antenna. LOL”
I still watch TV with an antenna. It’s called I only want to watch a few network programs, and I don’t want to pay some legalized monopoly like comcast an Andy Jackson each month to give me air-network service through a wire.
I just saw an article on getting HDTV with rabbit ears or an outside antenna, the signals are there if you don't care about satellite only channels. In fact XM radio has a terrestrial repeaters on cell towers for those times the satellites are blocked.
I have been a big HDTV skeptic ever since this stuff was rammed through Congress in the 90’s. Just never got the point to force broadcasters and TV makers to go to this format.
Luckily for them, the Internet boom has helped with a proliferation of hardware and software (and infrastructure.)
I am - HD five feed Ku/Ka band satellite. :-)
In a single word - bandwidth.
While some might see this move as foot-dragging by the FCC prior to full implementation of digital TV.
However, remember, Congress provided for free converters (at taxpayer expense) to be available for those people who do not have digital-ready televisions.
This move will save money in the long-run.
Friends of mine are doing just this with their new HD TV. The picture is perfect in air broadcast HD. Being digital there is no ghosting or other artifacts that one sees with analog reception. The HD signal is either there or not. Perfect picture and no cable bill. That's a beautiful thing!
Back to the Future... click here to view
The market drives Cable to do so. With DTV and Dish spending huge amounts on bandwidth to deliver HD locals to every market, Cable will either do so or lose business. This article is not in line with the reality of this transition. I speak from knowing two local station engineers (Fox and abc) and having owned HDTV since 1998.
LLS
Well, DUHHHH.
Why are they so anxious to keep analog on cable, when they're going to force broadcasters to turn off their analog transmitters?
Oh, waitaminnit. That's right. All those poor analog-TV-owning motorvoters out there have cable, which is more important to them than the rent or the car payment.
Add me to that list. No way will I pay for the same crap repeated over 150 channels that I get for free.
Oh, and there’s another reason why they don’t mind telling the cable operators they have to keep tieing up bandwidth with analog TV, at the same time telling broadcasters to vacate their analog TV channels.
First of all, recall that the gubmint owns the over-the-air frequencies. Now they wouldn’t go and harm their present tenants for just any old arbitrary reason. Nonono—they have a very good reason: they’ve found a bunch of pie-in-the-sky fools willing to pay them a schleptillion bucks for them outright.
Now, in contrast to the over-the-air spectrum, they don’t actually own the spectrum that goes down a coaxial cable. They have, however, managed to arrogate to themselves the ability to make life difficult for the people who own that cable. Of course, they wouldn’t dream of doing any such thing for just any arbitrary reason. Nonono—they have a very good one: votes.
I use an antenna for HDTV.
Over time those people who are satisfied with their analogs will eventually accept digital then digital HD as the only way to go. Just like when color tv's were first invented........
My brother in law thinks his non HD Sony (40 + inches) and his non digital signal is just the best thing going.
While watching the Masters last weekend at their house I didn't have the heart to tell him that in reality his picture sucked.......Of courst the fake hair he wears sucks too but he doesn't know it.
Please add me to the list. Thanks.
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