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How many misconceptions about the DTV transition can you think of?

The biggest misconception I've heard, is one that is never said publicly.

It comes from too many broadcasters and others involved in the transition.

It simply says: "But the viewing public is too stupid to ever understand this stuff. So, why even try explaining anything?"
 
kenglish said:
2. "If you have Cable or satellite, you'll be fine":

With DBS, many locals aren't even being carried. So, you won't get all of your locals. With a new TV or STB (and antenna), you'll get them all. Plus, DBS often needs upgrades of your dish, your wiring, and ALL of your receivers to get HD.
Click to expand...

My in-laws have DirecTV, but get their locals OTA, on a big sweet beam atop a 40 ft. tower. (Drool, drool) I don't know if DirecTV makes their locals available for a fee, but the point is that I had to convince them that they did indeed need a converter to continue receiving their locals on their 1994 and 1988 vintage Panasonics. They ordered the converters, now I've got to hook them up. I'm suspecting that from their location, 10 miles outside of Selma, AL, and their big honkin' beam, they should be okay except for My67 (WRJM-Troy) and two LPTV's (WFRZ-34 and WETU-39) that will be lost at some point by 2011.

I'll be losing ABC altogether and PBS on one set, so I guess they're getting off easy.
 
I know people that are under the impression that ALL over the air TV will be gone in 2009 and will move to cable or satilite. They think there will be no more free ota tv and will have to start paying for cable.
 
We got several calls yesterday, asking "When you guys start doing Digital in February......?"

Many people are still under the impression that stations will "Switch" to Digital that day, rather than just switching off the analog.

"Hey, we have TEN full-power DTVs on the air, with 22 channels of programming. Eight are HDTV, two are widescreen SDTV. Most went on, in full-power, nine years ago. Three more full-powers will flash-cut in February. Ten LPTVs will go DTV in the future. And, in Utah, there are over a thousand translator stations....several hundred are already running DTV companion channels." Can we program that in to a bullhorn ;D ?
 
Feature Donny and Marie in the spots in your market - that'll get their attention. :D
(ducks)
 
tripinva said:
That is not a misconception, I promise you.
Click to expand...

What Trip said. And I have first hand experience with WKYC-DT in the Cleveland market...at low-VHF 2, it's the only station I can't get OTA some 20 miles from the Parma "antenna farm". It's generally accepted in this market that you really can't get WKYC-DT over the air unless A) you have a pretty decent outdoor antenna and/or B) you live close to Parma.

Thankfully, WKYC-DT will move to RF 17 for digital at the transition, when analog WDLI/Canton shuts off.
 
And yet I never had a problem receiving KVBC-DT 3.1 Las Vegas on RF 2.
 
dhett said:
And yet I never had a problem receiving KVBC-DT 3.1 Las Vegas on RF 2.
Click to expand...

Where were you? I got KVBC-DT when I was in the city of Las Vegas and could see the towers on the mountain from my hotel room. I challenge you to go out a decent distance from the tower and receive it. Especially during a thunderstorm.

- Trip
 
tripinva said:
dhett said:
And yet I never had a problem receiving KVBC-DT 3.1 Las Vegas on RF 2.
Click to expand...

Where were you? I got KVBC-DT when I was in the city of Las Vegas and could see the towers on the mountain from my hotel room. I challenge you to go out a decent distance from the tower and receive it. Especially during a thunderstorm.

- Trip
Click to expand...

I know I had it at the Willow Beach turnoff from US 93 in AZ, about 10 miles from the Hoover Dam. I don't remember if I picked it up from near Dolan Springs, about 35-40 miles beyond that, but most of the Vegas stations come in very well there.
 
When you watch commercials such as the two offered above, is there any wonder why the public is confused/misinformed about the digital transition? Just why are OTA broadcasters so intent on making sure their viewers watch only on a pay service. I can't believe WABC-TV anchorpeople are doing PSAs (?) urging their viewers to subscribe to the competition. I'm sure there must be some real sweetheart deals between the OTAs and some cable services for this to take place. I've also noticed some very deceptive advertisements from Direct TV, strongly suggesting that OTA TV will no longer be available. I know it's an impossibility, but shouldn't the FCC be looking into some of this false advertising?
 
kenglish said:
Telling the public (using your news anchors) that there won't be any change at all, if you use the competition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e_hm3wP3uk
Click to expand...

Seeing as satellite or cable companies serve to make the signals of broadcasters available to the widest possible audience, they're not the 'cometition' by definition. They have a business relationship that may turn testy at times, but that does not define competition.
 
fortmill said:
I know it's an impossibility, but shouldn't the FCC be looking into some of this false advertising?
Click to expand...

As far as the FCC is probably concerned, the First Amendment allows false information to be broadcast. Hey, they pulled that one with Monsanto and WTVT in Tampa.
 
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