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OTA antenna sales skyrocket, cable subscribers jump ship
One could certainly argue the actual link between OTA antenna sales going through the roof while some one million cable subscribers decided to ditch their service this year, but nevertheless, that's exactly what has happened. Richard Schneider, President of Antennas Direct, saw his Terrestrial Digital brand of antenna sales "triple" during the same time period in which the cable industry lost two-percent of its market share, and while there's a very real possibility some of those folks opted for fiber or satellite-based alternatives, we've no doubt that some just decided to make do with the crystal clear, uncompressed HD locals; furthermore, new satellite subscribers in areas without HD locals would be awfully tempted to pick up an OTA antenna to complement their service. Of course, teaching the HD illiterate how to install and use one is a whole 'nother matter.
Terrestrial Digital antenna sales up 100% over last year
Terrestrial Digital is having a solid year. Just as their name implies, they make antennas and should credit their 100% comp to the magic of the ATSC signal. The digital stream riding on ATSCs signals produce crystal clear, snow-free picture. Now that the vast majority of broadcasters are at a 100%, the signals should be easy to pick up and maintain. Many people have found that their 1970-ish relic of an antenna even picks up most of 'em. Sure, Terrestrial Digital is just one manufacturer but we imagine that if they had a stellar year, so did other companies like Terk and Channel Master. If you happen to have an HDTV but don't have a high-def service provider for whatever reason, pick up an antenna and then check out this DIY guide to maximize your free HDTV picture.
