Stop Stalling On Digital TV!
Reading the recent articles and comments concerning the digital transition and the ability of the DBS providers to carry the OTA channels that wait to the last minute to switch to digital, I must wonder about the two main issues involved.The first concerns the actual switch by the various broadcasters to digital. Why in God's name aren't ALL OTA channels digital by now? The fact that they aren't is a disgrace. Remember, the owned and operated stations of the major networks in the largest markets of the country were required to have their digital signals up and running in November 1998. Yes, 1998! It is almost 9 years later and some stations are still not ready? Delay the transition for another year to pamper these stations? They were supposed to be all digital in 2006. That was delayed 3 years.
Enough is enough. I have a simple solution for those stations that can't make the February 17, 2009 cutoff, surrender your license. Let someone who cares operate your channel. Having Congress delaying matters even further will result in more delays and more delays. Why stop at 2010? Why not 2011, 2012, etc. Get on with it. Stop the delays. Keep the 2009 deadline and force these operators to abandon their analog spectrum or abandon their license to broadcast. Enough already!
As to DIRECTV and Dish Network not being able to get these stations on if they flashcut and wait till the last minute to go digital, I say nonsense. How difficult will that be? It is likely that any stations waiting that long will be small independent stations in small markets. They involve signals that DIRECTV and Dish pick up via an antenna in each market. Those same antennas will be used to pick up the digital signal also. How difficult can it be to reset their equipment to recognize the digital signal by that same antenna and run it through their system? Probably not that hard at all. Could it be that DIRECTV and Dish really don't want to be bothered with carrying these channels anyway, which are likely more trouble than they are worth to each provider? Why not use this issue as an opportunity to get a waiver from the FCC to drop these channels altogether, claiming that they can't get them on in time? Maybe this is what DIRECTV and Dish are up to with their recent pronouncement? After all, you don't see cable complaining about this issue.
My recommendation to the Congress and the FCC is this: Stand your ground! Stick with your deadlines and force the issue. It is the only way to work through the issue and get the transition completed.
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posted by webmaster @ 5:00 AM
7 Comments
7 Comments:
If only the problem was as simple as you posit.
There are valid technical reasons why some stations have not yet begun digital service. A case in point: WPCW in Jeanette (Pittsburgh), PA has had its application for a digital construction permit delayed for well over a year because of a dispute over the assigned digital channel. A low power TV station in the region is currently on the channel in question. The FCC has suggested WPCW move instead to another channel now in use by the NBC station in Pittsburgh. That channel will not be available until analog shutdown in February 2009.
The TV stations in New York City are still dealing with the impact of losing their transmitter sites on the World Trade Center, but at least all the major network affiliates are on the air. An interesting experiment is being conducted in NYC to see if the use of a network of low power, same-channel transmitters can provide better coverage of the NYC market than a single large antenna mounted on the Empire State Building (and eventually the new Freedom Tower.)
There has been foot-dragging in some smaller markets. Erie, PA comes to mind. The stations there are claiming financial problems as the reason for not going full power and offering HD. That said, it must be remembered that the FCC does not require broadcasters to offer HD; the requirement is for digital. A station broadcasting only 480i 4:3 is fulfilling the letter of the law.
You might take a look at some data the FCC has available regarding the transition to digital. Get started here: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/dtvstatus.html
All the best...
There may be a few with legitimate problems but for the most part I think they need to keep the deadline intact. The satellite companies can switch to all digital on the Locals during 2008 before the deadline. They're just hem-hauling around trying to be in control.
Lets do get on with it. Quit playing politics and do what is right for television. All digital and HD is the only way to go. Analog TV is terrible. Quit babying those that don't want to change. If people didn't change there wouldn't be much today. No computers, no telephone, no television, nothing. Progress is necessary. DO IT NOW>
Irrespective of broadcasters' readiness, when the news stories start hitting in early 2009 about all the grannies who are going to lose their analog TV service, the politicians will inevitably delay the analog cut off. The only question is by how long, 3 months, 6 months, a year? That's not to say that the FCC should let the broadcasters off the hook, though.
There is no political group that has been pushing for a delay. No political party, no special interest group, just some random speculation that a delay will be necessary. It may well be more expensive to delay now rather than to simply move forward. Plus, has not the bandwidth that is being freed by the changeover already been auctioned off?
Well a bunch of folks must be confuses or having zero problems with OTA- over the air antenna DTV, that is the issue not the "natural transition" that sat and cable said to congress 2yrs back? The reception on antenna is so variable depending on conditions alot of laymen to granny type viewers are lost if they try to go beyond playing with rabbit ears and wondering why the picture locks up so much & why. The promise is a 6th or 7th generation "chipset" will fix the worst of multi-path signal problems & such. I am 8miles from a full power PBS and it is dang aggivating on the wife to have the show she is watching lock up so she still goes back to analog all the time. By the way LPTV has no deadline yet mandated so really small stations may not have to go until the prices on encoders and PSIP and lipsync boxes ans such come way down. ONE of those can cost more than the whole station did to put on the air originally so we are left with mega media corps and few independents? gripe gripe gripe ? When it works it is great but it is all or nutton on antennas
Let the market decide. That's what we did with the metric system--something that is more important, especially in this economy, than what TV standard is going to prevail. Gas prices are high right now and nobody wants to spring $20 extra for a poor-quality hastily-made converter box.
Why not keep the dual systems? Colonial and Metric seem to live together fine; Analog and Digital have been living together for almost 10 years without problem.
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