By Sarah Schuch
Edited by Amanda Crabtree, Meredith Mayberry and Kelly Morse
In less than a year, the broadcasting technology for television will be upgraded to digital and bring new opportunities to consumers.
Preparations are already being made for the Feb. 17, 2009 analogue turn off date that will affect most consumers.
“One in 10 people will be cut off and not have television at all,” said Kevin Campbell, instructor for the School of Broadcast & Cinematic Arts.
Campbell said consumers need to be hooked up to cable, satellite or buy a converter box, which changes the digital signal back to analogue.
By going digital, broadcasters and consumers are presented with more options.
People will have the option of having widescreen films broadcasted to their home, along with an improved signal and additional channel choices, Campbell said.
“Now there will be like 700 channels with nothing on them,” said Jan Howard, executive director of Mid Michigan Area Cable Consortion, jokingly.
Broadcasters will be able to choose full widescreen or use multicasting, where they use four signals at a time.
Charter uses multicasting now for channel 12. They have their normal station, and then they have a weather station and two others.
According to Digital Television’s Web site, www.dtv.gov, converting to digital will free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast spectrum. Those parts can then be used in areas such as public and safety services and advanced wireless services.
As of March 1, 2007, all new TVs had to include digital tuners. The only way a TV could still contain an analogue tuner is if it also had a digital tuner, according to the Web site.
Dallas Lape, store manager of ABC Warehouse, said new TV sales have increased tremendously since the new law. Only a few TVs are left with analogue tuners in the business’ chain, but there are none left in his store.
Campbell said a lot of people have the misconception that a new TV should be bought. They don’t necessarily need to replace their television set.
Howard said individuals can also hook their TV up to a DVD player that has a digital tuner and change channels that way. It’s not the best way, but it will work, she said.
“Make (a new TV) your Christmas gift to yourself,” Howard said. “That’s the best advice I can give.”
Consumers who will have the most challenges are those who live in rural areas and use rabbit ears, Campbell said.
Only those using rabbit ears or an antenna will be directly affected by the change in 2009. Basic cable won’t be completely digital until 2012, but it is encouraged to be prepared soon, Howard said.
Those individuals affected in 2009 will have to either buy the converter box or get satellite. The box should be available in stores within the next couple of weeks at Best Buy or other electronic stores, Campbell said.
Lape said ABC Warehouse sells the converter box for $48, when they should cost $59.
On Digital Television’s Web site individuals can register to get a coupon for $40 off the price of a converter. It expires 90 days after you receive it.
“It’s the government’s way of dealing with the conversion,” Campbell said.
When the date of the conversion was decided, one thing was on the mind of the Federal Communications Commission.
“Thank God they scheduled it after the superbowl,” Howard said, quoting a member of the FCC.
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