House Republicans propose warning labels for analog TVs

If a group of House Republicans have their way, television manufacturers still trying to convince consumers of the questionable benefits of analog TV may soon have a harder time making their case, as they'll be required to slap a big 'ol label on that old-school tube warning potential buyers of its considerable shortcomings. According to TV Week, the bill proposed by Republican members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce would mandate that all analog-only TVs carry the message that "this TV has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after Feb. 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts." Not exactly "this TV can kill you," but hardly a selling point either. The bill would also require cable and satellite service providers to deliver regular reports detailing their consumer educations efforts, as well as require that the FCC create its own consumer outreach effort and provide details on the number of customers that have redeemed coupons for cable boxes. While the prospects of the bill passing aren't clear, it has picked up at least one big supporter, with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) quickly hopping on board to endorse it.

[Via Lost Remote]

[Matt @ Jan 24th 2007 9:52PM]

They should stamp that on the vista box saying "Parental Advisory: This OS Pron to Crashing"

[Jay T @ Jan 25th 2007 9:52AM]

Can you verify this statement? If its anything like my copy of MCE 2005 it will be very stable. Stop with the Microsoft Bashing.

[matt @ Jan 24th 2007 9:55PM]

this seems like a good idea to me. I personally don't think that analog only TV's are that bad but the fact is that analog OTA broadcasts will cease at some point and people should be warned that their brand new TV may have to be replaced, or at least enhanced with some kind of digital to analog converter, in a few years.

[Jonathan Cleary @ Jan 24th 2007 9:56PM]

It's a good bill, hope it passes.

[Fuzz @ Jan 24th 2007 10:03PM]

Well then, they should also be forced to put a sticker on anything that has HDCP, saying that the device enforces a crappy copy-protection scheme that will make your viewing life miserable, and prevent you from fair use of your purchased media, and may not be compatable with the fancy new electronics you were convinced to buy a few years ago.

Think they can queze that all on a sticker?

[Murc @ Jan 24th 2007 10:37PM]

ummmm, what the point of this bill?

because last time I checked, analog only TV's can not be sold in the US past March 2007.

[Joe @ Jan 25th 2007 1:21AM]

"Because last time I checked, analog only TV's can not be sold in the US past March 2007."

I believe that's MANUFACTURED past March 2007. They can still sell what they've already made well past that date.

[modenadude @ Jan 24th 2007 10:49PM]

sounds good to me, where do I sign?

... oh... right....

[Tamyu @ Jan 24th 2007 11:25PM]

Japan has been doing this for a while now (a couple years?), and the analog broadcasts here will go on until 2011. I think that starting with the stickers now is a bit of "too little too late". If they`re just now starting education efforts, wow, are there going to be a lot of pissed off customers.
They should have started this when the cut-off date was decided.

[eric cumbee @ Jan 25th 2007 12:34AM]

if i am not mistaken when the analog cutoff was pushed back so was the cutoff date for selling analog tvs.

[kev @ Jan 25th 2007 1:13AM]

The reason analog broadcasts were good were because they were resilient, using FM. Of course, those republicans don't know the first thing about signal processing...whatever. Digital TV has had its kinks worked out and until the price of the sets drops low enough such that they are about the same price (sub-$200) for a half decent HDTV set as opposed to their old CRT counterpart. I don't see why this legislation should even be considered being passed.

[lejupp @ Jan 25th 2007 4:43AM]

Terrestrial analog TV broadcast are AM not FM and neither is it very resilient. Never wondered why NTSC frequently dubbed as "Never The Same Color"?

[kev @ Jan 25th 2007 1:14AM]

signal processing and communication theory*

and there should be a comma, not a period at the end. I'm too tired.

[Eh @ Jan 25th 2007 1:27AM]

They should do the same thing with dial up internet.

[ethana2 @ Jan 25th 2007 1:48AM]

All communications need to be put onto the internet, and broadband needs to be made available to all as part of taxes. Along with information taxes. Seriously. Who wants to pay for every little CD they buy, and all the software they only need 'cause Windows doesn't work without it, etc.

I'll pay for "piracy". $60/mo. all around. That way, ppl don't feel guilty about consuming data, and DRM becomes irrelevant. And nonexistent, of course. Why not enjoy this song? Not only has it already been produced, but I've already payed for it, too. Until then, well, I hope Linux kills Vista. The world doesn't need more proprietary software.

Dedicated hardware can die too. How about a label that says "This device can't do crap compared to a PC. Just get a good monitor and TV tuner card."

[Sean @ Jan 25th 2007 2:02AM]

http://www.dtv.gov


Ahhhhhhhahahahahahaha :)

[magik @ Jan 25th 2007 2:32AM]

lol!

"Tomorrow's TV Today!" ...

"Last Decade's Web Design Today!"

[J @ Jan 25th 2007 2:13AM]

Wait, aren't republicans in favor of a small government? Just seems strange to me.

[Matt @ Jan 25th 2007 12:59PM]

Yeah, seems more like something democrats would do.
Anyway, the stickers sound good, not sure about the cable/satellite company part though.

[v1m @ Jan 25th 2007 6:15AM]

Americans are maxed out on debt, housing's tanking, the war's a costly bust (toldya so), credit's going to tighten, and all our politicians can think about is stickers to extract more from us to placate their big donors in the box stores.

ROFL @ these swine.

[sparkle @ Jan 25th 2007 8:58AM]

v1m:
It is the job of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to do things like this. Not to handle the war, credit, debit, etc. Those issues have thier own committes.

Also this is a good idea, labels should also be put on EDTVs.

[K @ Jan 25th 2007 9:29AM]

"The bill would also require cable and satellite service providers to deliver regular reports detailing their consumer educations efforts..."

So why should the cable and satellite providers be required to do this? They will be the saviors of our redneck nation that still has the old analog sets.

[Ray-- @ Jan 25th 2007 9:49AM]

won't cable companies still send analog though? This high-def only thing is just for broadcast right??

[GioNYC @ Jan 25th 2007 9:51AM]

Who cares, nothing is good on TV anymore except American Idol and Heros. By the Year 2008 Most Americans will be geared towards the Net. Yesterday I spent 1 hr watching TV, 5 hrs browsing the Internet. And another hr watching Fox 5 News.

[LongshotX @ Jan 25th 2007 9:55AM]

Tell this to Wii owners. They still think the HD revolution is 5-7 years off.

[Gary Combs @ Jan 25th 2007 11:48AM]

I'm all for this. Lots of people are totally clueless about the changes coming in TV. This is just about educating/informing the consumer.

[Timerider @ Jan 25th 2007 11:58AM]

Maybe this will finally convince my parents to replace our 25-year-old piece of crap.

[Leo @ Jan 25th 2007 12:34PM]

Cable will eventually steer away from analog also, getting rid of those analog channels opens up what, about 2 HD or 10 standard def digital channels for each analog I think? I know my cable company has been doing a digital simulcast for a year or so now. I'm sure they'd love to drop the analog at some time. Although, I'd imagine it will still be quite a while.

[pm7417 @ Jan 25th 2007 5:39PM]

The 13" Magnavox TV I bought in Nov 2006 already has one of these warning stickers on it.

[aaa @ Jan 25th 2007 8:32PM]

Lowest RankedMatt @ Jan 24th 2007 9:52PM
""They should stamp that on the vista box saying "Parental Advisory: This OS Pron to Crashing""

AND maybe a stamp on all Macs to say "This computer not able to run over 90% of available software on the market" or "Yes, I don't get viruses because nobody cares to write malicious code for a product with only 5% market penetration" or "Can only by a Mac from Apple who dictates price fixing so forget about shopping around" or "Don't believe Steve's hype-I am not as powerful as a PC."

[Anthony @ Jan 25th 2007 11:15PM]

I don't think it will be too hard to get manufacturers to go with this. I work in a retail warehouse and some TV's already have that exact warning label on the box.