In fairness, the government didn’t pass a law mandating that 8-tracks or Betamax tapes would cease to function after a certain date. It also didn’t make billions of dollars selling the right to use the technology that replaced those items.
Having said that, how many people anymore don’t have either cable or satellite (those boxes serve the same function as the boxes the government is giving away for standalone TVs) and won’t have purchased a new TV in the past few years, but who want to watch over-the-air standard resolution broadcasts? I’m wondering if there’s not another use for these boxes (i.e. get them for free and sell them to someone) or if there isn’t an important legislator with a big financial stake in a company that makes them.
Most of the estimates are that around 10% of the market is either receiving pure antenna analog TV or has no TV at all. Which is why they’re finally making the cut over, now that 90% of the country will only notice because of news stories throw converter boxes at the other 10% and get this long overdue change done.
1. I don’t have cable or satellite.
2. The govt isn’t giving away the boxes, it’s a $40 coupon good for a box that’ll cost $70-$90.
3. Guess what, not all digital TVs have a digital tuner. Those without one will need the converter box too.
4. Digital local stations will be able to “multiplex” and have several channels so theoretically folks like me will get more “free” TV. They could still suck like the rest of TV though.