DTV transition promotion is using bad approach

[Rick Rose 2.0]

It bothers me that the approach that local stations are using to promote the upcoming analog shutdown is simply weak. Digital transmission of signals for most full power stations is already in place and has been for a while. I live in Atlanta and can get the all the major stations digital signals and only have a roof top antenna, so I have already converted all my tv watching to the digital signals. I would say most of the country's population that still relies on analog by antenna can convert to digital now. The ads really bother me because they can talk about it frequently but there will be a lot of people that wake up February 19th and wonder why their tv doesn't work. There is a percentage of the population will have no clue about the digital transition and will have never heard about (because they have not paid attention to the ads and bottom of the screen scrolls.

I know there are stations that don't have great digital signals available yet and most of those will be fixed in the coming months.

There just has to be a better way to promote the change that is more logical.

 

[alg2468]

You are correct in your assessment to the conversion. But frankly a lot of people still relying on analog tv either have the the fear of new technology, believing it's too complicated (hooking up a converter box and replacing or retuning their indoor or outdoor antennas). And then there is the belief that the changeover is too much of a hassle (who wants to install an outdoor antenna - many still believe their landlord will not allow that). I believe that the changeover will be a source of frustration for many who will lose their signals even after installing a converter box and upgrading their antenna. And for those who view more distant signals (Class B Signals), it will be tougher to get those stations. If most TV stations, as suggested by the FCC in a recent report, either 1) change their signals patters, 2) increase their transmitter power and/or height, or 3) relay their signals by translators or repeaters so the entire Class A and B signal area for analog will be the same for digital, then the transition could eventually work out well. The transition to digital, in my opinion, does provide clearer signals, but the big problem is receiving those signals over a large area.

 

[landtuna]

The glaring omission I've noticed here in Phoenix is the lack of mention that the converter box needs to scan before digital stations are viewable. I'm thinking a bunch of people will simply connect the box then wonder why nothing shows.

Of course, the boxes do have instructions but who reads those?