Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen (Part I)

[imhomerjay]

Considering the feds rendered my perfectly good handheld TVs useless, my portable TV that I could move from, say, the garage to workshop, etc., impractical, and the portable TV my widowed mother uses to watch TV in bed at night useless....yeah, I'll miss it. And all so, what, the feds could take in some money without being fiscally responsible and, you know, spend less. To top it off, they add almost every sop imaginable to the broadcasters who whine and moan about any imposition and end up with a sweetheart bill compared to everyone else touched by this debacle. I love my government.

 

[w9wi]

To top it off, they add almost every sop imaginable to the broadcasters who whine and moan about any imposition and end up with a sweetheart bill compared to everyone else touched by this debacle. I love my government.

SWEETHEART BILL???????

Broadcasters ordered to spend on the order of $1,000,000 each for something that doesn't add anything to revenues -- spend it, or go out of business.

Broadcasters told, you may have come up with a way to recoup some of those digital expenses with subchannels and data broadcasts -- but we're going to allow cable to strip those signals and cut off the largest and most desirable part of your customer base.*

Broadcasters told for years "you will turn off your analog transmitter on February 17, 2009". Then, with two weeks to go (and LONG after budgets have been set), told "you will not turn off your analog transmitter on February 17, 2009". "You're on your own figuring out how you're going to pay for the upkeep and utility bills."

Broadcasters charged thousands in regulatory fees for their applications and licenses for the digital facilities they are required to build in order to avoid going out of business.

If that's your definition of a "sweetheart bill" I'd hate to see your definition of unfavorable legislation.

* the same cable industry that exists today only because in the early 1970s, broadcasters were ordered to allow cable to use broadcasters' signals, without charge, to compete with those same broadcasters.

 

[rch66]

To top it off, they add almost every sop imaginable to the broadcasters who whine and moan about any imposition and end up with a sweetheart bill compared to everyone else touched by this debacle. I love my government.

SWEETHEART BILL???????

Broadcasters ordered to spend on the order of $1,000,000 each for something that doesn't add anything to revenues -- spend it, or go out of business.

Broadcasters told, you may have come up with a way to recoup some of those digital expenses with subchannels and data broadcasts -- but we're going to allow cable to strip those signals and cut off the largest and most desirable part of your customer base.*

Broadcasters told for years "you will turn off your analog transmitter on February 17, 2009". Then, with two weeks to go (and LONG after budgets have been set), told "you will not turn off your analog transmitter on February 17, 2009". "You're on your own figuring out how you're going to pay for the upkeep and utility bills."

Broadcasters charged thousands in regulatory fees for their applications and licenses for the digital facilities they are required to build in order to avoid going out of business.

If that's your definition of a "sweetheart bill" I'd hate to see your definition of unfavorable legislation.

* the same cable industry that exists today only because in the early 1970s, broadcasters were ordered to allow cable to use broadcasters' signals, without charge, to compete with those same broadcasters.

While the pushback may not be fair to broadcasters, broadcasters are still not going out of business, and are not having to fight tooth and nail for a dollar, like retailers and other businesses. Stations can run 24x7 infomercials, keep must-carry, all that to cover the cost of doing business, and earn a profit for the owners at the end of the day.

I'd need to see a few stations filing for bankruptcy, no buyers, going off the air (like Channel 48 in Philadelphia between 1983-1992) for me to have sympathy for broadcasters and their expenses.

 

[LKellerIII]

Re: The Coat Hanger Antenna!

(or convert a valuable old coat hanger) again! ;D

Ah, The COAT HANGER ANTENNA. I remember that. Those were the days! Any others who used a Coat Hanger?

"I TOLD YOU! NO WIRE HANGERS - EVER! " --Faye Dunaway (Mommie Dearest, 1981)

I don't think I ever had to use a wire hanger for my TV - but definitely did for a substitute car antenna a number of times when vandals had snapped the original one off. Then they invented those nifty "stump-cover" antennas.

 

[imhomerjay]

* the same cable industry that exists today only because in the early 1970s, broadcasters were ordered to allow cable to use broadcasters' signals, without charge, to compete with those same broadcasters.

The broadcasters' signals...over the public airwaves. That is an entirely different situation than businesses not founded on the principle of being a trustee of a limited public resource.

Of course, it's not the 1970's now. Today the broadcasters are trying to get the satellite, and cable, providers to pay them money for the same signals they transmit over those same public airwaves (all the while howling in discomfort if they're forced to run a few hours of so-called educational programs).

Most cable companies also don't "strip out" the digital multicast signals. YOu may need a cable box to get them, but when agreements are reached through negotiations, they're carried.

 

[wrsg915fm]

My family has cable tv so we pretty much don't have to worry about the switchover.

Oooh, what I could say about this. As posted earlier more than once, I referred to cable's "Big Lie," meaning that all cable customers were led to believe that they would be safe. Mighty Time-Warner didn't want to look bad after they would've been forced to cut off service to our system and other similar ones nationwide, so they had 'Windjammer' buy up what were unprofitable assets.

My very rural cable system has now dropped 2 locals. An additional local went to 'nightlight.' Some locals that were ordered to stay on analog are buying us enough time to get on a waiting list to an independent dealer so we may get sufficient tower, a proper antenna, coax and the rest. I don't want to install another system after having been on cable for about 25 years, so I'm leaving it to the professionals. One of my neighbors is reporting better reception. Our reception now is horrendous. One of my aunts (in her upper 70s) said she is not paying the bill we all received this week. What are they going to do-stop providing cable? Most people in our area have satellite dishes due to our poor system. ALL RURAL SYSTEMS should have been forced to send their subscribers a notice ONE YEAR before the transition that their systems would not be made ready for DTV. I appreciate honesty, although I don't have to like the answer. IF that were done, then I would have no sympathy whatsover for folks that chose not to get converter boxes. I would have gotten months ago, and would have had the proper system installed then, had I known THE TRUTH. Now, as a teacher, I'm shooting for the summer, so I don't have to take time away from my students to make sure the installation is done competently.

Is there anyone else on this board, or knows someone that is losing their cable service? THANKS, everyone!

Greg

 

[landtuna]

Oooh, what I could say about this. As posted earlier more than once, I referred to cable's "Big Lie," meaning that all cable customers were led to believe that they would be safe. Mighty Time-Warner didn't want to look bad after they would've been forced to cut off service to our system and other similar ones nationwide, so they had 'Windjammer' buy up what were unprofitable assets.

I live in an urban environment so no, I don't know anyone losing their cable service but.....

You are a TEACHER and didn't understand? I don't get that. Did you not understand the difference between analog and digital cable? Or maybe the cable company just pulled the rug? Did you call the cable company and ask their engineering staff exactly what was supposed to happen with the cutover? Do you have a state utility commission of some sort that regulates this type of service (and they let you down as well)?

Everyone who lives in a rural environment should be well aware their services will almost never be as good (or stable) as those provided to the multitudes living in cities. When I lived in rural Virginia some years ago we were not able to get any sort of TV service and even our basic electricity and phone service were spotty and usually failed during rain, snow and wind. Just the nature of the beast.

If your environment permits it I would suggest, before you spend large bucks for a tower, antenna etc., you look into satellite. Both DISH and DirecTV can provide this service. It is affected by heavy rain but tends to be a lot more reliable than cable (in my experience). You need a clear path to the southern sky and that's it.

 

[w9wi]

While the pushback may not be fair to broadcasters, broadcasters are still not going out of business, and are not having to fight tooth and nail for a dollar, like retailers and other businesses. Stations can run 24x7 infomercials, keep must-carry, all that to cover the cost of doing business, and earn a profit for the owners at the end of the day.

I'm not complaining about the expenses - it costs money to make money. But I think it's VERY wrong to call the DTV transition a "giveaway" when it's costing broadcasters millions of $$ - and is not optional.

The temporary (and I emphasize TEMPORARY) second channel would have been a "giveaway" if the government had compensated the stations for the cost of going digital. Or if going digital were an option - if stations were allowed to continue to operate in analog indefinitely.

Obviously that is not the case.

 

[wrsg915fm]

Oooh, what I could say about this. As posted earlier more than once, I referred to cable's "Big Lie," meaning that all cable customers were led to believe that they would be safe. Mighty Time-Warner didn't want to look bad after they would've been forced to cut off service to our system and other similar ones nationwide, so they had 'Windjammer' buy up what were unprofitable assets.

I live in an urban environment so no, I don't know anyone losing their cable service but.....

You are a TEACHER and didn't understand? I don't get that. Did you not understand the difference between analog and digital cable? Or maybe the cable company just pulled the rug? Did you call the cable company and ask their engineering staff exactly what was supposed to happen with the cutover? Do you have a state utility commission of some sort that regulates this type of service (and they let you down as well)?

Everyone who lives in a rural environment should be well aware their services will almost never be as good (or stable) as those provided to the multitudes living in cities. When I lived in rural Virginia some years ago we were not able to get any sort of TV service and even our basic electricity and phone service were spotty and usually failed during rain, snow and wind. Just the nature of the beast.

If your environment permits it I would suggest, before you spend large bucks for a tower, antenna etc., you look into satellite. Both DISH and DirecTV can provide this service. It is affected by heavy rain but tends to be a lot more reliable than cable (in my experience). You need a clear path to the southern sky and that's it.


I've been a DishNetwork customer since the 1990s. We are NOT able to access local channels. Believe me, we've tried. And yes, I do understand the difference between digital and analog. Again, was there ever any instance where rural cable customers were advised to check with their company as to ability to provide DTV programming? I didn't see anything about this until a local station transitioned and ran the information on their 'nightlight' service.

My one major gripe is that systems such as ours should have been upfront about the transition and should have told its subscribers that our system would never be made ready, and to make alternative arrangements. We never received any paperwork stating that they would not be able to provide DTV.

I am now on a waiting list with an independent dealer to have the entire system professionally installed.

Greg