Senate Passes DTV Nightlight Bill

[tripinva]

Or, for that matter, where is there an accurate list of what stations are currently on the air in a given market, and what channels they are actually broadcasting on?

My website.

- Trip

 

[KTN Corp]

Does anyone anywhere really know what will happen when all the analog signals are shut off? To me, the digital signal seems weaker, and prone to pixilation, especially in times of bad weather. Does the FCC have any plans on improving or increasing the digital signal, or are we, the ones who will not pay for cable, just SOL? Hell, from reading posts on other areas of this board, it seems the FCC can't even keep track of their call letters anymore! They just put KUBE on in Long Island, NY!

Maybe we need to pressure the networks. Let them know that after February our access to their shows (and advertising) will be limited.

I know, what a scam! Subsidizing luxury television wouldn't be a big issue if Congress hadn't stepped in. What's the point of replacing the refined (less power hogging) CRT TVs with power-hungry plasma and LED widescreen television? Going green is just lip service--big coal must be happy about more demand for power (and more CO2 emissions). If the environmentalists find out, they will try their darnedest to stop it; their voice has much weight with the issue's current popularity and the party in power. What ever happened to "let the market decide?"

There isn't even an agreed standard for sole normal (4:3) or sole widescreen (16:9) on DTV. I keep getting squeezed pictures on my cable analog sets from the widescreen format. Unbelievably there are 4:3 TVs still being sold (mostly CRTs but there are some LCDs I saw at Macy's waiting rooms in Houston). If it's at 4:3, the dangerous black bars would appear on the side. Talk about a boondoggle!

 

[KTN Corp]

I'd like to think so, though I haven't yet met one person who gained channels rather than losing them unless picking up an automated weather map and five flavors of TBN counts as a net gain.

haha
I know the feeling of those 'net gains', I scoff when one brags about DTV's subchannels. I only want to watch my program in full HD; the additional subchannel(s) will make it less than full. I remember that in the KBTV thread in the Texas forum that KBMT can't carry both networks in full HD without straining the bandwidth. Ouch!

I also haven't met anyone willing to install an ugly set of antlers on the rooftop with no guarantee they'll be on the high side of the digital cliff.

If that's allowed by the Homeowner's association. The FCC should propose a rule to allow that similar to mini-dish satellite TV. That's what happens when one doesn't use COFDM.

 

[KTN Corp]

I suspect we will see the power limits go up on DTV stations after the analog signals are gone. TV stations sure don't want to have to maintain multiple translator and repeater stations just to fill every little hole in the coverage area.

There will be kinks that will be prevelant for years to come, way after the analog shutoff.

I'm surprised that we didn't adopt DVB-T considering the baggage of problems of ATSC.

 

[Chad-Stevens]

If that's allowed by the Homeowner's association. The FCC should propose a rule to allow that similar to mini-dish satellite TV. That's what happens when one doesn't use COFDM.

I'm not sure how many people will be fortunate enough to receive ALL of their locals with a nudge of the rabbit ears, but I doubt its very many in a market with hilly terrain. Unless the locals plan on blanketing each area with a horde of translators to cover the elderly/ethnic/poor/urban/rural/stubborn/all-of-the-above who get left behind. For most people, the loss of just one of the big three will probably force a change of plans.
But whether there's a homeowners covenant or not, I don't know anyone who has or is willing to go out on the roof and install a beam because:

A) it's dangerous (compounded by the switch coming in the middle of winter for most folks)
B) the antennas are unsightly
C) they wouldn't begin to know how to install it
D) they wouldn't know who to call to install it
E) the costs of purchasing/installing the equipment
F) You still have no guarantee you'll get a viewable signal
G) you may also need a rotor with that beam? Planning on rotating it while channel surfing?
H) Commercial broadcasters have shown little interest in developing their subchannels
I) All of the above

Once subscriptions pass 95%, will the very structure of American TV - each network having +/- 200 independently owned affiliates - even be relevant any longer?

 

[w9wi]

If that's allowed by the Homeowner's association. The FCC should propose a rule to allow that similar to mini-dish satellite TV. That's what happens when one doesn't use COFDM.

The regulation that supports mini-dish satellite *does* apply to OTA antennas too.