Washington, D.C.
(February 26, 2007)
-- In several cities, such as Providence, New Orleans
and St. Louis, local stations are refusing to let cable
and satellite operators carry their High-Definition
signals.
The local stations are demanding that they be paid for the signals, which the TV providers are refusing to do.
These battles are likely to escalate in the coming months. And in cases when the cable or satellite provider agrees to pay, it will likely mean higher monthly programming bills.
So, as a high-def owner, what can you do?
Many HD viewers are hitting the roof -- and we mean that literally -- by installing rooftop antennas that can capture the HD and standard definition signals of their local stations. (Some people can even get local signals with an indoor antenna costing less than $20.)
By using an antenna, the high-def owner can watch the local HD channels for free -- and doesn't have to worry about whether his cable or satellite provider gets into a scrap with the locals.
Some HD enthusiasts also say an antenna offers a better picture, although that's not a scientific fact.
The local stations are demanding that they be paid for the signals, which the TV providers are refusing to do.
These battles are likely to escalate in the coming months. And in cases when the cable or satellite provider agrees to pay, it will likely mean higher monthly programming bills.
So, as a high-def owner, what can you do?
Many HD viewers are hitting the roof -- and we mean that literally -- by installing rooftop antennas that can capture the HD and standard definition signals of their local stations. (Some people can even get local signals with an indoor antenna costing less than $20.)
By using an antenna, the high-def owner can watch the local HD channels for free -- and doesn't have to worry about whether his cable or satellite provider gets into a scrap with the locals.
Some HD enthusiasts also say an antenna offers a better picture, although that's not a scientific fact.
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Still, the antenna is being touted by many industry observers as a great alternative to cable and satellite. However, before you run out and buy one, here are five tips to make sure it's the right choice for you.
1. Does Your HDTV Have a Tuner?
You will need a high-def tuner to display the antenna's HD signals. Most late model sets come with a tuner inside, but not all. (And many older models don't have tuners inside.) So before you buy an antenna, check out your set's manual to see if it has a tuner. It doesn't, you'll need to buy a separate HD tuner to capture the signals; prices are around $200 or less.
2. Where Do You Live?
The closer you live to your local stations, the better. By example, I live in North Beach, Maryland, which is about 50 miles from the towers for the local stations in either Baltimore or Washington. Even with the highest-power rooftop antenna, I have been told that I would be lucky to get even a couple HD channels. However, at my former home in Arlington, Virginia, I could have picked up most of the local HD feeds with an indoor antenna.
Fortunately, the Consumer Electronics Association has created a web site -- antennaweb.org -- that allows you to plug in your zip code to assess your options and get some antenna recommendations. However, it's not perfect, which leads us to...
3. Where Do You Live? Part Two
Even if you live around the corner from your local station, you might have other obstacles to deal with such as, well, obstacles. There could be an exceptionally tall building or a mountain blocking the path between the station's tower and your antenna.
In addition, your home may be near some interference that could disrupt the signal. For instance, a friend of mine back in Virginia lived near the Pentagon and he could never get a signal from an antenna, even a standard definition feed.
High-def signals, by the way, are hit and miss, unlike standard definition. You either get them or you don't. So if the signal is not of adequate strength, you won't even get a fuzzy picture; the screen will be dark.
4. Do You Have a Roof?
If you're lucky, you'll be able to get your local HD channels with an indoor antenna. But if not, you'll need to go up on the roof or find an otherwise suitable outdoor location. For apartment dwellers and others, this is easier said than done.
5. You Won't Get Cable or Satellite HD Channels
HDNet. Discovery HD Theater. HBO HD. INHD. MHD. All of these -- and other national HDTV channels -- are not available via an antenna. You need to subscribe to a cable or satellite service to watch them. So if you want more than just the local channels in HD, you will need more than an antenna.
However, if it's the locals you're looking for -- and you live at the right location -- the antenna can be a great way to avoid rising cable and satellite fees. Not to mention, those pesky HD blackouts caused by the battles between local stations and the TV providers.
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Still, the antenna is being touted by many industry observers as a great alternative to cable and satellite. However, before you run out and buy one, here are five tips to make sure it's the right choice for you.
1. Does Your HDTV Have a Tuner?
You will need a high-def tuner to display the antenna's HD signals. Most late model sets come with a tuner inside, but not all. (And many older models don't have tuners inside.) So before you buy an antenna, check out your set's manual to see if it has a tuner. It doesn't, you'll need to buy a separate HD tuner to capture the signals; prices are around $200 or less.
2. Where Do You Live?
The closer you live to your local stations, the better. By example, I live in North Beach, Maryland, which is about 50 miles from the towers for the local stations in either Baltimore or Washington. Even with the highest-power rooftop antenna, I have been told that I would be lucky to get even a couple HD channels. However, at my former home in Arlington, Virginia, I could have picked up most of the local HD feeds with an indoor antenna.
Fortunately, the Consumer Electronics Association has created a web site -- antennaweb.org -- that allows you to plug in your zip code to assess your options and get some antenna recommendations. However, it's not perfect, which leads us to...
3. Where Do You Live? Part Two
Even if you live around the corner from your local station, you might have other obstacles to deal with such as, well, obstacles. There could be an exceptionally tall building or a mountain blocking the path between the station's tower and your antenna.
In addition, your home may be near some interference that could disrupt the signal. For instance, a friend of mine back in Virginia lived near the Pentagon and he could never get a signal from an antenna, even a standard definition feed.
High-def signals, by the way, are hit and miss, unlike standard definition. You either get them or you don't. So if the signal is not of adequate strength, you won't even get a fuzzy picture; the screen will be dark.
4. Do You Have a Roof?
If you're lucky, you'll be able to get your local HD channels with an indoor antenna. But if not, you'll need to go up on the roof or find an otherwise suitable outdoor location. For apartment dwellers and others, this is easier said than done.
5. You Won't Get Cable or Satellite HD Channels
HDNet. Discovery HD Theater. HBO HD. INHD. MHD. All of these -- and other national HDTV channels -- are not available via an antenna. You need to subscribe to a cable or satellite service to watch them. So if you want more than just the local channels in HD, you will need more than an antenna.
However, if it's the locals you're looking for -- and you live at the right location -- the antenna can be a great way to avoid rising cable and satellite fees. Not to mention, those pesky HD blackouts caused by the battles between local stations and the TV providers.
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
____________________________________________
Phillip Swann is president and publisher of
TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of
publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN,
Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The
Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Financial
Times, The Associated Press and The Hollywood
Reporter. He can be reached at
swann@tvpredictions.com
or at 703-505-3064.
Click
TVPredictions.com
to read more news and features
on TV technology.