As Congress mandated, June 12, 2009 will be the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog
Carlos Restrepo
– Editor in Chief –
As Congress mandated, June 12, 2009 will be the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog. All TV broadcasts will be in digital after that date. Students that have not made the switch to DTV have three choices: get a TV that receives digital signal, buy a converter box, or get cable.
Nick Bender, Home Theater Specialist at Crestwood’s Best Buy, said he thinks it is better to buy a new TV, which can range from $200 or more, because the quality of the picture would be better. They do however, have DTV converter boxes for $54.99.
“We have sold tons of those,” Bender said. “They go fast, but I am sure we will not run out.”
The government is also giving away coupons for all American families who need economic assistance in getting their converter box.
“Between January 1, 2008, and July 31, 2009, all U.S. households will be eligible to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes,” states dtv.org, a website set up by the government to help Americans transition.
Although there is a set date for the switch, some TV stations already have begun transmitting in Digital signal. Over 500 TV stations across the United States have already made the switch. Channel 30 (KDNL) in St. Louis, for example, is already transmitting in DTV only.
Scott Dorough, broadcasting professor, said that the switch to DTV has been a mess on the governments part.
Feb 2009 was supposed to be the hard date for the switch, but back in January Obama and Congress discovered they didn’t have enough money to fund the coupon program so they said “why not wait until June.”
He said many broadcasters were upset, and this is why some even made the switch over anyway.
To Dorough, the switch means progress in the field of communications.
For decades, he said, our television quality lagged behind Japan and Europe, so it was seen as a bit of an embarrassment that the nation that produces a ton of content was creating inferior quality content.
“Since our economy is so tied to consumer spending, it’s an easy way for the government to spur growth by necessitating the purchase of a new TV,” Dorough said. “Now, those with cable or satellite or those who bought the converter boxes wouldn’t lose their tv and so wouldn’t necessarily need that new TV, but who wants to have friends over to watch the game on their old CRT television.”
Dorough said he also incorporates this new TV evolution in his classes.
“In the theory classes, we discuss how it’s affecting the industry, discuss at a base level the technology, all the regulations that went into place to make it happen,” Dorough said. “Technology is hard to discuss in a theory class, though. We are integrating HD technology in our Video and Film classes, so those advanced students can start working on the same industry standard equipment as they will when they get out into the industry.”
He said everything students need to know about the transition is laid out in the FCC’s website. He said the easiest way is to get the converter box.
“Or you can put an HDTV on your Christmas wish list and hope for the best,” Dorough said.
