Some stations making the early switch
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The U.S. House vote to postpone the transition from analog to digital television broadcasting gives stations the option of switching sooner than June 12 if they choose.
Some TV stations in the Madison market are going ahead with digital-only broadcasting on Feb. 17, the original conversion date. A joint statement by WKOW-TV and WISC-TV says their research indicates less than one percent of households in their market are not yet prepared for the conversion from analog to digital.
Each station is expected to inform their viewers of the exact time of the switch on Feb. 17 through station announcements and newscasts.
The Nielsen Co. estimates that more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog TV sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals still are not ready for the conversion.
Feb 6, 2009 at 7:59 a.m.
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The main reason for the delay is that the congresscritters can pretend they are actively looking out for the people's interests. "Hey, we may have piddled away Granny's social security fund and jacked up her Medicare costs to where she has to choose between medicine and food, but at least she can still watch reruns of Gilligan's Island on her old TV... until the bank forecloses. Enjoy!"
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They can't balance a budget or pay their taxes or keep their pants zipped up, but hey... they can rule the public airwaves. Let's start a rumor that the analog tv broadcast spectrum is Republican and the high-definition spectrum is Democratic and watch them switch us back in four or eight years when the public will be tired of Democratic bungling and mismanagement. and swap losers again.
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I'm wondering how many TV stations sold their conventional broadcasting hardware to stations outside of the U.S. and have delivery dates before June?
Feb 5, 2009 at 2:38 p.m.
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An extension for what? It's been in the works for 3 years. People have had more than enough warning and prep time. There will always be people who procrastinate. When the switch comes the stragglers will finally be forced to get up and do something.
Feb 5, 2009 at 1 p.m.
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Don't matter, can't get digital TV here. The digital revolution severed my ties with all broadcasters that aren't online.
Feb 5, 2009 at 11:53 a.m.
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Good to see some stations going ahead with this. That will start to clarify what works and what does not work with this newer technology. It seems that this process of rolling this out was done in the most insane way possible. Reason will prevail somehow.
Feb 5, 2009 at 9:27 a.m.
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We won't have jobs or cars or houses, but by the grace of God and government we will have digital broadcasting. Once every senior citizen in the country has two digital converter boxes (they gave me a coupon!) we will most likely see a large sector of China's economy dry up as demand for that product wanes.
Feb 5, 2009 at 8:59 a.m.
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It's not like this switch hasn't been advertised like crazy for the last year.
Feb 5, 2009 at 8:48 a.m.
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WMTV-TV (NBC15) is also going ahead with plans to switch on Feb 17th.
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