The original DTV transition: what could've been
By Darren Murph 
posted Feb 17th 2009 10:16AM
posted Feb 17th 2009 10:16AM
You see, America's shift from analog over-the-air (OTA) broadcasting has been in the works for over a decade, with the supposedly rock solid February 17th transition date in stone for well over three years. A recent Washington Post report asserts that the US federal government has spent around $2 billion (billion, with a b) in order to help people prepare, and particularly over the past six months, it was difficult to watch two segments of the local news without getting blasted with a low-rate "Are you ready?!" commercial. On top of the previously mentioned chunk of change, broadcasters also dropped a staggering $1.2 billion in order to provide adequate PSAs and to purchase new equipment suitable for digital transmission.
So, why are we sitting around on February 17, 2009, with only a select few stations broadcasting in all digital? Or, maybe the better question is: why isn't every station broadcasting in all-digital? Just as the new year dawned, the government realized that the funding bucket it had established to provide $40 TV converter box vouchers had run dry -- and sure enough, it knew this disastrous day was likely coming. Right on cue, procrastinators began to make all sorts of racket, complaining that they didn't have enough time to apply for a coupon or that it was simply their God-given right to watch TV. Whatever the case, Barack Obama and his administration were dead-set on delaying this thing, presumably in an attempt to secure even more funds out of the thin night air to make sure the "millions" still "unprepared" would be ready to rock 'n roll when the transition actually, finally happened.
And so, the hemming and hawing in Congress began. At first, everyone and their third cousin twice removed expected this delay -- from February 17th to June 12th -- to fly through with no questions asked. On the contrary, it was flat stopped by the House of Representatives by completely sane individuals who realized that delaying the inevitable was, well, unintelligent. Of course, the matter couldn't just be left alone, and somehow or another, the bill was allowed to ride again -- this time garnering enough votes to shuttle it all the way through onto President Obama's desk.
Where do we stand today? Who knows, really? The official stance is that the mandatory digital TV transition has been bumped until June 12th, but a curious provision was included in the bill that enabled stations to go ahead with their long (long!) scheduled cutover if they chose. Remember, serious amounts of stations had already booked contractors to take apart old analog equipment and flip the switch on the digital stuff, and canceling those kinds of appointments can be costly to say the least. We heard that the big four -- FOX, ABC, CBS and NBC -- would be doing their best to all wait until June 12th in order to reduce confusion, but the FCC has already approved for hundreds of dutiful, prepared stations to follow their original plans and make the switch today.
What it all amounts to is that tons of people are still waiting for DTV vouchers, many of which can now only watch some or none of their local stations over-the-air. On one hand, they should've just applied earlier (right?). On the other, there's the viewpoint stated by the Washington Post: "The idea that the government might deprive people of television reception strikes some as unjust and, in the event of emergencies, possibly dangerous." We won't get all political on you and argue one way or the other, but here's something that's completely bipartisan -- what we currently have on our hands, friends, is a mess.
The original bill that allocated voucher funding passed in 2006, though a $1.5 billion limit was imposed. Clearly, not enough people went for the "I'll just buy a new digital TV!" option. In the most recent, wide-ranging stimulus bill that passed through Congress, another $650 million was set aside for the digital TV transition, and we're left to assume that money will enable the wait list for coupons to dwindle. Of course, actually finding a digital TV converter box should be a real joy, considering that any supply chain manager with half an ounce of sense slowed production to a crawl right around December or January. Now, we're told that some are scrambling to get these product channels rolling again, but don't be shocked if you have to look around a bit to locate a box -- particularly one that's magically close to $40.
So, where do you go from here? If you were one of those responsible, caring, diligent individuals who applied for your coupon prior to the eleventh hour, you're good to go. Regardless of what your local stations do (or don't do, as the case may be), you're all set so long as your box is plugged in. If not, we'd get on the waiting list as soon as possible, or, just pony up the $40 you would've gotten from the government and buy the box outright. Or, you could just forget about all this mayhem and buy a new digital (ATSC tuning) HDTV while recycling your old set. Here's something you can't control: whether or not your local station(s) goes digital today, or waits until June 12th. It's tough, we know, but that's the harsh reality of things.
Oh, and if you were wondering "what could've been" while wading through all this -- just imagine. Every station in America could have switched to digital today, and surely, a few of 'em would've had an inordinate amount of complaints from those that weren't prepared. But still, everything would have been uniform, and the late-bloomers in attendance would simply have themselves to blame for not getting prepared early enough -- or, they could angle their stress at Uncle Sam, who obviously didn't provide enough cash to handle coupon requests the first go 'round. Our guess is that they would choose the later.
As we look forward with puzzled looks on our faces, here on a day of would-have-been history, let's just hope that the suits in Washington learn from this fiasco. Actually, scratch that -- let's just hope the June 12th date doesn't get bumped to sometime in October. Yeah, that's totally more realistic.
[Image courtesy of BreakItDownBlog and KWWL]
Why did they think the whole of America would be able to cope with the transition with only a years notice when the UK are doing it gradually, region by region, over 3 or 4 years. Without free STBs as well. They aren't hitting a snag, don't need any funding and have free-to-air HD channels with little fuss.
It wasn't a years notice. I believe it was in 2006 that we were first told about this.
A year? Try 10 years. The transition was announced in the 90s and was actually supposed to happen ~2005 but not even the broadcasters or hardware manufacturers were ready then so they pushed it back to 2009.
And for whoever did the TV image above it's PSYCH!
Chads right, this was potponed several times. its only been on tv etc for the past year, but tha plan has been in place and pushed up several times.
I remember the year 2000 was thrown around to switch over in the mid 90's. This is long overdue. Only one channel is switching over in Cincinnati tonight...
THizzle7XU @ Feb 17th 2009 1:44PM
"I remember the year 2000 was thrown around to switch over in the mid 90's. This is long overdue. Only one channel is switching over in Cincinnati tonight..."
I saw that this morning and thought, "Dammit!". I was really hoping we'd be one of the areas that was almost completely converted. Really? Only one!?!?
Mark my words. It'll be delayed again come June 12th...
Every time it gets delayed, more lazy/confused people assume it'll never happen, and there's less chance that they'll be prepared with each new cutoff date.
DTV is the new Metric.
I know who I want in charge of healthcare!
I would consider it an entertaining sport to see all the people ranting and raving about their TV not working when/if it gets shut off in June.
One of the first issues Obama addresses is assuring people continue to get their television programs? The U.S. government seems to be more concerned about every Americans having television than medical care! Television is neither an essential service nor a human right.
Medical care is not a human right either.
Aah, but every corporation has the right to advertise, and to have those ads heard by as many people as possible. Taking TV away from the dumbest people (those who didn't make the switch in time) would also be taking ads away from the people who are easiest to advertise to. And that would hurt the economy.
@RN
Reasonable people might disagree that people have the right to receive care if they're injured or sick.
"Television is neither an essential service nor a human right."
YES... I actually havent heard it said quite so well. I dont agree that the government should have to pay all these millions of dollars towards buying people these convertor boxes. I'm sorry but these commercials have been constant for about 18 months telling people to buy these convertor boxes.
I dont see why asking people to pay a one time $40 fee for this box to continue receiving free tv is so bad.
At least here in San Diego, where most have now thrown the switch, the hold-outs (read: losers) can watch stations in Tiajuana. So, lots of drug war news and some fun Mariachi band music and whatever else they have to while away the hours until they get a clue they should have had months ago. :-D
This is all my fault. I got two converter boxes, with coupons, last year. Six months later I bought an HDTV and picked up cable. I'm sure a lot of people did something similar too, I can't be the only one.
Way to go, you DTV coupon stealer! This whole mess is your fault!
: )
My parents did the same, I got them the coupon and bought the converter box but then decided to get directv. I 'll be honest and admit I haven't heard about the dtv transition until early 2008 but I still applied for the coupons and was ready.
Well everything is the responsible's fault now in America.
you guys should see how many times this has been delayed in Australia, it's 3 years later (probably more we've all lost count) and analogue broadcasts continue
that kid is my hero
I did not give Engadget permission to use my photo.
I like how he's sitting a yard from the TV yet has the remote in his hand.
My favorite part is that these cheap converter boxes have about $15 worth of parts in them. Factor in a $5 a box profit margin and you are looking at a $20 box. Wait! Why are they $60 instead of $20? Oh, right. The government decided that open market principles should be tossed out the window. What you end up with is inflated prices for junk.
The "government" (ie, you and me) didn't set the price of the converter boxes.
The government under G. W. took a look at the price of converter boxes and said "We'll subsidize people that make boxes by giving out $50 coupons to people... because it looks like boxes will cost $50 and this will be a no-brainer way to subsidize overpriced consumer electronics and the companies that make them.... oh and we can pretend like we are helping poor people!"
If the boxes are overpriced, it's because the companies making them know that they can charge "all the market will bear" and someone did the math: Hey, if everyone has a $50 coupon, why don't we charge $60. We'll make even more money, and we can say "gosh, it's really only costing you $10 so don't complain" if anyone asks why converter boxes retailed for $50 before the coupon program, and then $60 after the coupon program started.
There are lots of brands but the lowest I have seen is $40 not $60
http://www.amazon.com/Sunkey-SK-801ATSC-Digital-Converter-Box/dp/B001KP7D8G/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1234906631&sr=8-12
has anyone else noticed that the caption over the "Countdown to Digital" image should be PSYCH rather than SIKE? I've been getting more and more disappointed with Engadget's writers. The articles are still generally interesting and well-written, but they're getting worse and worse in terms of typos or incorrect word use (there/their/they're, then/than, or even later/latter which also happens in this article.) Or is it just a trend in the general population that people are caring less about using the right word and/or spelling it correctly?
PSYCH = too big
You are obviously not old enough to remember the 80's. Sike is perfectly acceptable usage in this context.
I was advising customers about the dtv switch 7 years ago. It's been in the pipes for at least 10! Obama and the idiots who think it came about last year and still did nothing to prepare are now wasting money in a time when that money could be used to keep people on a payroll. Thanks a ton.
the government's policies make no sense to me. if you can't afford a converter box, you probably can't afford a tv, or at least afford to watch tv.
why are we awarding the lazy?
People are gonna bitch about things either way, may as well not spend all this money trying to satiate the beast
The working poor would probably disagree with the idea they shouldn't be able to watch TV in the evenings with their family.
I think it's less a matter of being "too poor" to pay for a converter box, and more a matter of the fact that if the government (who regulates the networks) is going to change their broadcast system, they should be responsible for ensuring that it works with your existing technology.
There were (many) pallets of Coupon eligible converter boxes in my local Going-Out-Of-Business Circuit City store this past weekend. I agree with ahow28. Even with the GOOB discount, they were still priced to maximize the $40 coupon and give all of that taxpayer money directly to the liquidators.
Today is my birthday. I waited more than a year for today so that I could feel like something somewhat digitally historic happened on my birthday. There were countdowns everywhere, it was great! Then Obama and his goons came in and ruined it all just two weeks short of my goal. If it had been anyone else's birthday it would not have been delayed. So thanks a lot Obama, thanks a lot Congress, thanks a lot House of Reps, and thanks a lot to the ignorant American masses who screwed this up for me. You did your job well... now go screw yourself.
and yes, in a way, I really am a little mad about all this and it isn't all just some big joke. I hate stupid people.
THIS is what I hate about American politics, a president talks boring stuff, everybody complaints he isn't in touch. He mentions the transition (which mind you comes with a BIG price tag) and you complaint he has nothing better to discuss. Well it is not only important he does, it was an economic decision. Kudos to Mr Obama. (but BOOOO for the delay! )
I live in the South Bend Indiana market and so far 2 of the 3 full power stations have transitioned with the third transitioning tonight. There will only be 4 LP stations that will continue to broadcast in analog, but 3 of those 4 also have a digital signal. With that said, the delay was not effective in my area. However I think the reason we got the go ahead is because of the 4 analog LP's that weren't required to switch.
ANALOG WILL LIVE ON! Well... at least the High-Def Component Connectors (which are analog video) on the back of your Cable, Sat, Blueray, PS3, Xbox360, Wii etc will.
This is a very good thing as well. Why? I;ll tell you why...
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html
This avchd-usb video capture device can digitize those non-DRM HD Analog signals into AVCHD ( h264+dolby digital ) files that you can store on your PC...and playback on PS3, Blueray, Xbox360 etc.
Long-Live Analog !!!!
What does that have to do with anything? Do you think the people that are getting their TV through rabbit ears have any of those devices? And if they did, do you believe that the digital transition affects them in any way? This topic has nothing to do with anything you've described.
Our fox affiliate in Pittsburgh is going fully digital tonight (as is our My Network TV one, but who cares about that.)
Here's where things get bad.
Our CW affiliate was assigned the analog frequency of our NBC affiliate for their digital frequency. This means that our CW affiliate cannot go digital until our NBC affiliate ceases their analog broadcast. They aren't going to do so till June 12.
So, after 11:59 PM tonight, you must be able to tune both digital and analog to get both Fox and CW in Pittsburgh if you get your TV signal OTA. This poses a serious problem for the thousands of people who bought DTV converter boxes without analog passthrough and also creates a ton of confusion for other people who aren't going to understand that they MUST use the box for FOX, can use either the box or their TV's tuner for a group of other stations, and MUST use their TV's tuner for CW.
What a mess.
I think this will turn in to the great metaphor of the Obama presidency.
People watch CW?
Hmm, interesting...
If this is such a "burden" on broadcasters, then explain to me why every mainstream commercial station in my area (both media market areas) have opted to "burden themselves" having to broadcast in both analog and digital, WITH dual power consumption, dual broadcast antennas, etc. THROUGH the new June 12 deadline. They don’t have to maintain the analog under the new law. They’ve CHOSEN to do so.
I think I know the answer. They know that IN THIS LOCAL AREA (Eastern to south central Pennsylvania) there are MANY people who will lose ALL TV broadcasts when the analog is shut off. Yes, these are LOCAL CONSIDERATIONS. I know that. There is a HUGE swath of geography between the Philadelphia and Harrisburg markets, well north of the Baltimore coverage area, that will be a NO MAN'S LAND for digital broadcasts. No digital signals can reach us. I have tried 3 converter boxes. No signals found on ANY OF THEM. The FCC website maps confirm that my immediate area will be losing virtually ALL over-the-air TV signals. Worse yet, NO CABLE COMPANY SERVES MY ADDRESS and 3 separate satellite installers have confirmed they can't get me a signal through the large trees nearby without a VERY EXPENSIVE TOWER that the township authorities will not permit.
So thank you, U.S. Government. Your digital transition has cost me ALL TV service. Usual job well done! And the Administration wants to talk about broadband “build out”? Let’s try building out a usable ATSC broadcast network without massive holes in it first.
Because most of them got marching orders from their networks to not do anything that can give any other station a competitive advantage. They all want to drop it, but unless everyone drops it right now (which the FCC won't allow a fully digital market until June 12th), the majority are going to stay lit out of the fear or losing any marketshare.
Because for a lot of them, especially smaller markets, they're afraid that if they're the one station that does (or the ONE that doesn't) switch early, then they'll lose viewers. You may think that's a small number, and it is in many markets. I live in a market where over 30% of viewers do not have cable or satellite. Also, we're along the border, and since Mexico wants nothing to do with DTV, the 50%+ Hispanic viewers in my market also are going to be behind the curve. And a lot of people either don't have boxes with passthrough, or just don't understand how to bypass their converter.
Why stations delay. Not for you. One word answer: Sweeps.
Also, the Digital transmission power is low until the analog is shut off. Once this happens you will probably receive digital stations.
Unless you are one of those people that thought that digital meant you didn't need an antenna anymore.
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Ouch. I didn't realize there would be such large areas affected by the digital switchover. Do you live in a very rural area? Have you considered a basic satellite package? Yeah, you shouldn't HAVE to pay for TV that others get for free.
Not only that, but DTV breaks a basic tenet of analog that goes all the way back to original radio -- no matter how much static, you can still make out the audio. This dates back to before the World Wars, and to analog TV even now!
Now, you are ENTIRELY cut off of any audio because the digital refuses to decode anything when heavily-static analog was just fine. Maybe the digital audio is too high-rate and not fault tolerant anymore, but they've just ended the days of guaranteed audio. Great job!
Why stations delay. Not for you. One word answer: Sweeps.
Also, the Digital transmission power is low until the analog is shut off. Once this happens you will probably receive digital stations.
Unless you are one of those people that thought that digital meant you didn't need an antenna anymore.