Local news fails to cover all of their stories in enough detail, leaving their viewers the opportunity to learn more online. I don’t have a problem with obtaining more information online, but I do have a problem with the amount of time they waste after nearly every story telling their viewers to gather more information online. That time could have been spent sharing the rest of the information, because, face it, not everyone has access to the Internet. Or they could just say at the end of every episode that their viewers can go online and learn more.
I hate Digital TV because there are people who do not have a new TV that is Digital Ready. Why the government decided to force the citizens to obtain Digital-ready TVs or Digital Cable is beyond me. There are people who looked forward to watching TV on their old black and white boxes or their old TV with an antenna attached. It doesn’t seem fair to make these people go out and buy new TVs –OR BE LEFT WITHOUT ACCESS TO A TV. This is ridiculous. There’s an economic crisis going on. People are losing their jobs. People are struggling to pay their rents and have enough to eat, and now the government may be taking away their entertainment.
I have two TVs that are digital ready, but the old TVs will be thrown out soon. What a waste. If anyone knows of a place that would like to recycle old TVs, let me know.
For people with the old TVs, you should not fail to mention that they may purchase a Digital Converter Box (CNET and Consumer Reports review). the government is even offering coupons to those in need, to help displace your own cost of the necessary upgrade.
Plus, you are not covering the benefits of Digital TV, which can multicast both HD and Standard-Def versions of the same programming, or even other special programming aside from their regular schedule, all on the same channel.
An example that could be implemented in this — though no specific mention is being made of this application yet — is while you’re watching the Steelers at San Diego on Channel 29, there may be a special weather alert for Philly, or maybe even a warning to stay indoors because of a random police shootout in the area. The data-casting portion (which would flash other sports scores at the time) would instead display a notice about the emergency, prompting you to switch to another cast of channel 29, which is displaying the local news report of said emergency.
If the benefit of multicasting is truly and completely applied to the local stations (who have already pumped a lot of money into their infrastructure just to support HD and multicasting) they could presumably air local news at all hours of the day, giving them more time to devote to each story.
Your old TVs need not be discarded, as they only need a digital converter, though a quick search online can find you local facilities that take and recycle electronics including television sets and old computer monitors.
Jeanette, you seem to have your facts jumbled a bit here. No one is being forced to go out and buy a new TV, although if you ask some shady employees at Best Buy or Circuit City they will tell you that you have to. As Jay said all you need is a digital to analog converter box which the government will pay for $40 of, being as a variety of retailers have models that are either $40 or $50, I don’t see anyone being forced to discard their old televisions. Furthermore if you have cable television your cable company will be or already has upgraded you to digital cable, to which you won’t even need a converter because it is already included in their digital cable boxes.
The government is doing this to improve our technological infrastructure, by opening up the old analog airwaves we are going to be able to improve the wireless infrastructure across the country which in case you didn’t know is lagging far, far behind the EU’s.
Oh, Chris — my father was telling me that since he has Comcast, he won’t need a digital TV. You’re saying he’s right?
I guess when I move down the road I should get myself Comcast cable, too, eh?
Jay, that’s correct. As long as you aren’t using analog cable and I’m pretty sure Comcast no longer offers that as a new install, although some people may still be using it, you will be fine and not need a digital converter.
I also found a website that has over 50 different converter box reviews on it. That is the most I have been able to find anywhere, it out does Consumer Reports and CNet. It is http://dtvconverterboxes.blogspot.com