Clock ticking for analog televisions

[prcscct]

I would think something like this is in the cards for the UK and EU as well, if not already there? Concerning here, an upgrade from twine to copper between the coconuts. Pete
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By JOHN DUNBAR, Associated Press Writer
Mon Mar 12, 4:45 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Attention owners of primitive TVs: If you still use an antenna to watch "American Idol," your picture will disappear at midnight on Feb. 17, 2009, unless you buy something called a digital converter box.

No one knows how much these boxes, which have yet to be produced, will cost. But the government will help you pay for them, at least until the money runs out.

The reason millions of TVs will be rendered obsolete is a government mandate for broadcasters to convert their signals from old-style analog to new-style digital.

The agency responsible for overseeing distribution of the converter boxes, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, explained Monday how the program is supposed to work.

Every household, regardless of whether it needs a box, will be eligible to receive two coupons worth $40 each that can be used to buy two converter boxes. The coupons must be requested between Jan. 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009.

Congress, in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, set aside $1.5 billion to pay for the coupon program. Initially, $990 million will be used to pay for coupons and cover administrative costs, which are capped at $110 million.

An additional $510 million may be allocated, but those coupons are reserved for households that only have over-the-air television.

The massive conversion is designed to make better use of the public airwaves. Digital broadcast signals take up less spectrum, so once broadcasters make the transition it will free up a big chunk of the airwaves and allow the government to auction it off and dedicate some of it to public safety.

The Federal Communications Commission says that as of June 2005 there were 15.4 million television households in the United States that received over-the-air signals only. Add to that homes that receive cable or satellite, but also have sets that rely on antennas, and the number gets larger. That leads to concerns there won't be nearly enough money for everyone to get a converter box.

And then there's cable.

The National Cable and Telecommunications Association reports that roughly 66 million U.S. households subscribe to basic cable. About 32 million of those have digital cable, and sets hooked up to that service will not be not be affected by the change. Anyone who receives direct broadcast satellite signals also has nothing to worry about.

That's where it starts to get complicated.

For consumers who plug the cable right into their cable-ready TV sets, they will either be provided with a set-top box by their service provider, or the provider will send an analog signal to its customers. But the issue has not yet been fully resolved. In any case, cable-only channels won't be affected during the transition.

Despite the uncertainty, the affected industries are bullish on the program. A coalition consisting of the National Association of Broadcasters, the Consumer Electronics Association and the Association for Maximum Service Television (a local television station trade group), praised the new rules.

In a statement released 30 minutes before Monday's press event, and before the rules were actually made public, the group stated they would "provide much-needed certainty to broadcasters, manufacturers, retailers and ultimately the American public..."

[Wanderlust]

2009 eh? That gives us until at least 2024 here in Thailand then!

[Jaime]

[Big Boy]

Jaime wrote:

[Jaime]

Well, not for TV digiboxes but we do for just about everything else. I'd rather keep the child benefit coming every month and pay for my own digibox!
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"The man who never made a mistake never did bugger all" - Old Welsh proverb

"Why limit yourself to the death of a crummy celery stalk when you can eat a giraffe?" - PWEETA

[Kraka's Dad]

UK has far too many benefits. Child allowance is just one of them. Saw a great bumper sticker when in USA a couple of years ago.
If you can't feed don't breed.
Child benefit or allowance was introduced just after WWII in 1946 to encourage people to replenish the poputation after the losses due to the war.
It is 2007 now and the country is bulging at the seams and does not need any extra people. Cut Child benefit and put the money into the National Health system that so badly needs it.

I know this opinion will not be popular with all but that is just what I feel.


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The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

[Jaime]

[SuperTonic]

So let me get this right.. America are spending $1.5bn to make sure Americans can watch telly, and yet doing bugger all about the aftermath of the hurricane in New Orleans (still as much of a mess as it was the day after the hurricane by all accounts, and something of a lawless wild west if the Top Gear experience is anything to go by), yes that's a really good use of taxpayers money.

[The understudy]

[quote="Wanderlust"]2009 eh? That gives us until at least 2024 here in Thailand then! [/quote]

Hi there Wanderlust
2024 would be the intro date for inner Bangkok six months later Bangkok and surroundig areas 2025 til who knows what year, the res of the country. This is my Analysis of Digital TV entering Thailand.
Ohh Yeah for True Vision/UBC viewers they have to upgrade from their Digital recievers to HD Digital recievers.
You's The understudy