will the digital broadcast "switch over" in 2009 effect cable telivision?

[crashwg]

I've heard some discussion here and there about the switch that will be taking place early 2009 in the U.S. but I can't seem to find any sort of documentation outlining what the changes will be.

I spoke with someone at Circuit City and they basically just told me that I'll need a cable box to watch TV when the switch occurs.  Everything I read in print only refers to "broadcast" though which leads me to believe that cable television will not be changing...

I would think there would be an "official press release" or something of that sort. 

[ChadTower]

What he meant by "cable box" was probably an HD->SD converter to make the signal compatible with your SD television.  Of course, who knows if he had any idea of what he was talking about.

[boykster]

When the broadcast spectrum goes all digital, standard analog tuners will no longer work, and legacy tv's will require a tuner box to both receive the digital transmissions, and to downconvert the received digital broadcast to a format that SD tv's can display.  One thing to note is that this changeover does not require broadcasters to switch to HD, just that they deliver the signal digitally.  There are already many local stations transmitting digitally (as well as in the analog range) but just delivering SD broadcasts.

The "mandate" on these boxes is that they be inexpensive for consumers to ease the transition. 

As far as cable / sat operators, they are essentially immune from this, as the policy only affects the over-the-air broadcast spectrum, and frankly most cable co's and sat co's are already delivering the bulk of their content in the digital realm.  Now whether or not they continue to offer analog simulcasts (as they do now on most cable systems) so that consumers can plug the raw cable feed into the back of their sets and use the internal tuner or not will remain to be  seen.  In my area, Comcast has already deprecated the analog signal, and completely simulcasts their entire lineup in the digital realm.  I KNOW they would love to eliminate the analog channels to reclaim a bunch of bandwidth for new programming, but haven't as there are millions of customers who use it.

Only time will tell.....I'm not even conviced the full switchover will happen in 2009...its already been pushed back a couple of times.

 

[JoyMonkey]

This just happened in the Netherlands. As of today they're the first country in the world to completely abandon analog TV broadcasts. I think I read somewhere that everyone had to buy converter boxes for about $40 a pop.

[ChadTower]

Won't happen in the US.  You'll get too many people yelling "but the poor shouldn't have to pay" and it will get held up for possibly years so that Congressmen can get sound bites advocating "free converter boxes for my constituents" but not actually doing anything related to converter boxes.

[JoyMonkey]

Here's one Dutch guy's point of view, I couldn't find much related news stories:
http://www.thedonkeysmouth.com/2006/12/dutch_tv_goes_digital.php

[AtomSmasher]

My grandmas tv company (time warner I think) just switched to an all digital signal.  She received something in the mail telling her about it and was freaking out that she would need to get a new tv.  I told her not to worry about it because she already had one of their newer cable boxes, so she shouldn't even notice the switch.  The switch came and went she never had any problems. 

[boykster]

JM's netherlands link actually states a very interesting problem....just as interesting and imminent as Chad's comment about price of the box (which WILL be an issue I'm sure).  He only touched on it briefly

...couldn't even guarantee that the signal would be available in all areas yet.

Tuning a digital channel is much different that an analog one.  Digital signals are MUCH more directional and phase specific -> IE your antenna not only has to be pointed in the right direction, but also may have to be tilted to receive a strong signal.  Also, unlike analog signals, digitals signals are binary.  you either have enough signal to receive the transmission and it's crystal clear, or you don't.  With analog reception, even a marginal signal would be able to be received, albeit fuzzy and fading in and out.  Fading in and out of a digital signal is much less elegant.

I spent many months trying to receive HDTV OTA via a rooftop antenna with an antenna rotator that I could control with a remote.  I had presets for different stations that would turn and tilt the antenna for different channels, etc.  It got to be WAY to onerous to keep working properly, and most often I'd start losing signal during the ONE show I actually wanted to watch.  As soon as HD over cable was available in my neighborhood I signed up.  i was the first customer on my "loop" to adopt it.

I would bet that a large portion of the "general" population don't even know that this is coming, or at least don't understand the real world implications....sit back and grab some popcorn!

 

[Ken Layton]

I would bet that a large portion of the "general" population don't even know that this is coming, or at least don't understand the real world implications....sit back and grab some popcorn!

 

Neither does that "figurehead" at the FCC understand the implications.

[boykster]

I would bet that a large portion of the "general" population don't even know that this is coming, or at least don't understand the real world implications....sit back and grab some popcorn!

 

Neither does that "figurehead" at the FCC understand the implications.

I 100% agree with your statement.

[whammoed]

Tuning a digital channel is much different that an analog one.  Digital signals are MUCH more directional and phase specific -> IE your antenna not only has to be pointed in the right direction, but also may have to be tilted to receive a strong signal.  Also, unlike analog signals, digitals signals are binary.  you either have enough signal to receive the transmission and it's crystal clear, or you don't.  With analog reception, even a marginal signal would be able to be received, albeit fuzzy and fading in and out.  Fading in and out of a digital signal is much less elegant.

I have not experienced that issue where I am.  I am currently getting the local digital signals in my basement with just a plain old 3 foot wire stuck into the coaxial cable connection for antennae.  I may still route an antennae from the attic, but in the meantime the old piece of wire is doing fine.

[AlanS17]

I have a hard enough time picking up digital OTA signals where I live. All the broadcasts for the entire DFW metroplex are generated over 40 miles away on the south side, and I'm way on the north side. I had to buy a 10' directional antenna and an amplifier to get it work decently.

Back on topic, you'll definitely need a digital receiver when the time comes if you don't already have a TV that can handle the digital signal (such as my TV). That's really only going to be an issue for those people that don't use satellite, cable, or an NTSC receiver, and I'm pretty sure that number is shrinking.

Interestingly enough, a very large number of brand new HDTV's don't come with digital tuners built-in. They expect you to use a cable box, CableCard, external receiver, or sat receiver. It's just expected that if you buy an HDTV that you're probably also prepared to pony up the dough for premium content. As such, a lot of TV's just don't even bother including the digital tuner.

Digital tuners are getting built into nearly every new DVR these days (including  lot of those used by satellite and cable companies). I've got my DirecTV HD Tivo and I'm ready for the revolution. I know that digital isn't necesarily the same as HD, but I'm hoping the push towards digital will help the push towards HD across the board. I've like to see every show on every network in HD.

Right now, it seems the only cost-effective way to actually get HD programming is through OTA digital signals. After you have a receiver, it's just free. Cable and satellite companies charge an arm and a leg for HD, and you usually get less than 10 channels to show for it. And if you want movie channels like HBO in HD, you usually take the double hit. You have to pay for the movie channel and the HD.

[jbox]

I've got my DirecTV HD Tivo and I'm ready for the revolution.

Wait, don't you mean you're ready for the resolution? Knyk, knyk, knyk!

[boykster]

I have not experienced that issue where I am.  I am currently getting the local digital signals in my basement with just a plain old 3 foot wire stuck into the coaxial cable connection for antennae.  I may still route an antennae from the attic, but in the meantime the old piece of wire is doing fine.

Well then you're one of the lucky ones.  Enjoy it!