Broadcasters, Cable Operators Think They Can Prevent 'Tsunami of Public Outrage’ If Millions of Televisions Don’t Work Two Years From Now
By Ted Hern (2.19.07)
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6417227.html
On February 17, 2009, analog signals to TVs will be no more leaving many millions of TVs dark and millions more customers angry.
With this impending deadline, the way people receive TV might go through some radical overhauls depending on government subsidies, and innovations in IPTV, for example.
By forcing TV stations from their analog channels by a specific deadline, the DTV (digital TV) law cleared the way for the FCC to auction off what would become surplus analog spectrum for at least $10 billion, paid by companies, perhaps even cable companies, that want to grab the channels for wireless broadband services. The other channels are to go for free to fire, police and emergency organizations hungry for new frequencies.
One and a half billion dollars will be set aside to subsidize analogue to digital converters, but legislators and broadcasters believe this will not be enough, and many are speaking out against the hard deadline, saying it is too soon.
The other concern is making people aware of the switch date. On Jan. 31, the Association of Public Television stations released a survey showing that 61% of Americans polled “had no idea the transition was taking place.” The cost of this campaign to reach large channel stations to small local radio stations is estimated at 100 million dollars, and manufacturers have been ramping up production of converter-boxes to meet the deadline that is now just under 2 years away.
No comments:
Post a Comment