Digital delay approved by Senate
National News: KDKA-TV reports that the U.S. Senate voted today to delay the switch from analog tv to digital tv until June 12. The House is working on similar legislation and the Obama administration is calling for the delay over concerns that too many Americans relying on over-the-air signals won't be ready. The estimate is that 6.5 million households are not yet prepared for the switch.Readers’ Forum
Not ready is one issue.The folks that will NEVER have reliable service with this “Next Big Thing”............ as it is being rolled out…that’s an issue that hasn’t been addressed yet.
RJ
RJ Kanary - January 26, 2009 at 11:17 pm
While this will become more than likely become law, the loophole is that stations can still ask the FCC to convert early. I imagine a lot of stations will do this so that they can save money by not running both analog and digital signals longer than they had budgeted for, which is February.
Tom Lavery (URL) - January 27, 2009 at 07:01 am
I just read on the website for both JET-TV and Fox 66 “Yourerie.com” That Jet would look into the possibility of converting early if the deadline is extended to June 12th. Jet would move from DT 58 to DT 24 at full power with 523kw. I could not find if WICU would convert early or just stay on as a sub channel with WSEE at 35-3 until June.
Tom Lavery (URL) - January 27, 2009 at 07:49 am
I doubt if anyone will quit their analog signal early-it is all about ratings. Older viewers who have not made the transition watch many hours of TV. Stations won’t want to piss off some of their most loyal viewers.
Doug
Doug - January 27, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I just saw a report on Mornings Live that WSEE is also considering shutting off it’s analog signal early if the extension passes due to the costs of running both analog & digital signals. I really think the bottom line (saving cash) will be more of a factor than ratings, which most stations rely on from mostly cable and satellite viewers.
Tom Lavery (URL) - January 28, 2009 at 07:04 am
What is this going to do for PBS stations? Will they be required to keep their analog signals running despite the extension because they are “Public” broadcasting?
Brian - January 28, 2009 at 07:37 am
No, they like every other TV station can let the FCC know that they plan to shut off their analog signals early if the deadline moves to June. Both WQLN in Erie and WNEO in Alliance / Youngstown are digital only.
Tom Lavery (URL) - January 28, 2009 at 10:07 am