DigitalTransition
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UK sets analog TV cutoff for October 2012, finally sees a show after US viewers
It's not that we're upset UK viewers get to watch series like Luther, Misfits and Bedlam long before they officially air here (or in the case of Doctor Who, hours), but we are finally glad to know how a story ends before they do. In this case, regulators have decided that after analog broadcasting shutoffs have already taken place across much of the region, the final transmitters will go dark next year. Just as occurred here, the unused spectrum will then be auctioned off, while most TV viewers will survive, whether on digital OTA broadcasts, pay-TV or otherwise. We made it through with only one TV shot dead in cold blood, here's hoping our counterparts across the Atlantic can handle the changeover as smoothly.
Spending on cable and satellite services are up
Contrary to popular belief, this economy and the digital transition have actually motivated more people to subscribe to pay TV. You often hear those in the "future is now" camp say that people are looking for ways to save money and so they're looking to free internet TV alternatives and over-the-air TV, but it just isn't true. Our first indication of this was a few weeks ago when Nielsen released a study that showed that about 25 percent of those who relied on antennas for TV, just switched to cable or satellite instead of getting a free converter box; and now the NPD group is reporting that the monthly per-capita spending on entertainment subscriptions is now up to $115 a month. At this point the internet video movement isn't looking that disruptive after all, but with all the technology out there, we just have to believe that something is going to disrupt the existing archaic model.
A few broadcasters are moving back to UHF
Warranted or not, there has always been a stigma against UHF stations -- greatest Weird Al Yankovic movie ever -- so maybe that had something to do with many broadcasters electing to move back to their original frequency assignment after the digital transition. Whatever the reason, some broadcasters quickly realized the advantages of UHF over VHF when it comes to ATSC and have petitioned the FCC to move back. This is good news for everyone having problems pulling in those signals, but it really makes us wonder why the FCC didn't just standardize on UHF when it had the chance. At any rate, the moral of the story is that if you're having problems receiving your favorite VHF stations after the transition, don't hesitate to be vocal about it; because who knows, maybe they'll actually listen and move to UHF as well. The cool part is that moving frequencies is a pretty painless process thanks to virtual channel numbers -- unless of course you're using Windows Media Center.
CEA president Shapiro talks DTV transition
With the analog shutoff safely in the rear view mirror, CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) president Gary Shapiro took some time to talk about the move to our new digital airwaves (and also looked ahead to our 3D futures). All in all, some pretty interesting reading, but he makes a great point in chiding the broadcast industry -- by waiting until the last minute to get onboard the HD bandwagon, broadcasters missed out on what could have been positive market differentiation for their services versus cable and satellite. All's well that ends well, though, and we're just gad the plug got pulled on analog (with few casualties to boot), and we'd like the CEA president should know we celebrated the move. [Via DailyWireless, image courtesy CEA]
Analog TV says goodnight
Did you catch the sound of a falling tree in an empty woods this past weekend? In case you didn't hear it, analog "nightlight" transmissions went dark Sunday -- which amounted to 121 stations in 87 markets signing off for the last time. Absent the nightlight info screens, rock-dwellers will now have to emerge from their hermitages to figure out what happened to their TVs, but as we say in the 21st century, "them's the breaks." Aside from areas being served by analog translator and/or low power service, this marks the end of the analog broadcast TV era. Way to go, America -- we haven't heard any reports of riots or mass hysteria, and we'd dare say the citizenry handled this tech transition better than the millenium bug.
NAB disputes Nielsen's numbers, claims only 1.75 million unready for transition
With less than 24 hours to go until analog TV goes dark for a certain segment of American, and the NAB wants to make sure everyone is aware that Nielsen's unreadiness claims aren't accepted by all. The point of contention is a mere 1 million people and really comes down to those who are "almost ready." Meaning, the NAB doesn't count respondents who claimed to have already started getting ready, but aren't in any hurry to make the actual switch until the very last minute. Differences in opinion aside one thing is for sure, at some point tomorrow every TV watcher in the US will be digital ready, or they will no longer be a TV watcher.
Nielsen's final pre analog shutoff survey finds 2.5% still unready
In the last update before analog TV goes off after June 12, Nielsen's results indicate 2.5% of, or 2.8 million U.S. homes are still completely unready and will be cut off after it goes through. That's around three million less than it was the last time we were this close to the DTV transition, hopefully all reading this are on the digital television ready side (six easy steps right here.) Don't forget, many stations are switching at different times, so check your local broadcasters before rescanning so you don't have to do it twice, Friday night / Saturday morning is probably your best bet.
With a week to go, Obama urges the remaining few to make DTV preparations
Just in case you were living in fear of another last minute switch on the digital TV transition date, be at ease, President Obama issued a statement urging those who aren't ready yet to prepare as there will be no further delays, and for those of us in the know to make sure that people around the way are getting the message. With a week to go (again) is there anyone still reading this that hasn't gotten their digital TV future straightened out yet?
Microsoft restores guide data for ATSC channels in Media Center
We'll say one thing for our friends in Redmond, they might not always be on the ball but they do recovery quickly. Not even 48 hours after we reported the problem of missing guide data for ATSC channels that no longer have an NTSC counterparts, Microsoft came up with a interim fix that should restore guide data to all those pre-TV Pack Windows Media Center users. As we suspected, the issue had something to do with the old analog channel requirement and the root source of the guide data -- you didn't think Microsoft hand coded all that information did you? Evidently one of the sources of data used for both NTSC and ASTC channels dried up, post analog shutoff, and it caught the eHome team off guard. The good news is that all should be restored when your HTPC requests new data and if your like us -- you know the impatient type -- then a quick visit to "Tasks --> Settings --> TV --> Guide --> Get Latest Guide Listings" should do the trick. The full response from Redmond after the break.
Windows Media Center isn't ready for the digital transition
Media Center fans woke up to a rude awakening late last week when they realized that many of their OTA HD channels were missing guide data. After a number of reports at The Green Button -- where Microsoft is usually very receptive to programming data problems -- it become apparent that almost all the channels missing data were the very same ones where the broadcasters stayed on schedule and shut off their analog transmitters in February. We dropped a quick note to Microsoft to see what the deal is, but while we wait for a response we theorized that this might have something to do with the way OTA HD used to work in Windows Media Center Edition. Back in those days you had to have an analog tuner in order to add an HD tuner, so it makes some sense that the two were linked together, at least at some point. Further lending to this theory is the fact that those running the infamous TV Pack aren't affected and nor are those running a Windows 7 Beta -- MS completely rewrote how the tuners work in the newer releases. Now if you'll please excuse us while we go manually schedule all of our recordings, you know, like on an old VCR.
The FCC releases the Go-NoGo analog shutoff list
When the FCC denied about 25 percent of the broadcasters who wanted to go early from going on the original date, the first thing that we wanted to know was which ones? The good news is that FCC has finally posted a comprehensive list of every high powered station in the country and who went all digital today. Out of the 106 the FCC originally had objections to shutting down analog, 53 worked it out, 10 are still trying, and 43 actually agreed to delay. In total, about 36 percent of the 1796 full power stations made the switch (outlined in red in the linked xls spreadsheet) today, with 115 days and counting until the rest do.[Via HomeTheaterMag]Read -- 43 stations who agreed not to shut off analog. (xls)Read -- 641 stations that completed the transition today (xls)
Chicagoland broadcasters testing analog shutdown today
For any Chicago-area readers not already enjoying tru2way bliss (or certain Engadget editors waiting around for another CableCARD install attempt), the full power broadcast TV stations in the area are running their own soft-shutdown of analog TV broadcasts at 6:53 a.m. and 5:23 p.m., sending anyone properly prepared for digital broadcasts a screen crawl to check all household TVs, while analog sets will get a fullscreen graphic directing them towards various informational resources, including a (hopefully) prepped and ready 311 call center to assist residents in making the switch. Know someone who still gets their TV OTA? Make sure they're watching TV at the appointed test times, or better yet send them a link to one of the available online resources, and then for some Harold's.[Thanks, Stephen]
Hawaiian analog TV shutoff to come early, saving God's creatures
Technological progress marches forward, assimilating all those who resist -- we know this well in our line of work, but sometimes you've got to stand up and say, "The line must be drawn here! This far, no further!" Take the digital TV transition in the United States for example: all the analog TV signals will be shut off in February. It won't be pretty, but it'll be progress. Hawaii, though, has a dilemma: it just so happens that the analog towers that'll be torn down are awfully close to the nests of the state's adorable and endangered petrel birds, whose nesting season also occurs in February. Hence Hawaii's digital switch will occur a month early on January 15th, so you 17,000 affected Hawaiians have that much less time to grab converter boxes, or you'll end up watching the next season of Lost in person on your beautiful beaches instead of your ancient tube televisions.
Comcast plans to go all digital in Portland
Slowly but surely providers all over the country are converting from analog to digital, but not necessarily because of the digital transition in a few months. The main motivation to providers is that by eliminating analog channels, it frees up a lot of bandwidth for other services including our personal favorite: HD channels. Comcast plans to have 20 percent of its footprint all-digital by the end of the year, and at this point it is focusing on the Portland area. The main part of the plan is to utilize Motorola digital terminal adapters (DCT) -- just like Verizon did when it went all digital on its FiOS service. The interesting thing to us is that the 40 or so channels available to those customers with a DCT, won't be encrypted, so you could just use the clear QAM tuner in your TV -- assuming it has one. These DCTs are pretty dumbed down boxes and are only one-way so that means no VOD etc. There seems to be some confusion as to whether the FCC allows providers to charge existing customers for these boxes, but even if there is a charge, it is usually only a couple of bucks.
CEA launches YouTube digital transition PSA contest, winner gets a home theater
Think you know how to inform people about the digital transition in three minutes or less? The Consumer Electronics Association is sponsoring a contest with country band Whiskey Falls (yes, that's what we think when we think DTV, country music), offering a flat screen HDTV, Blu-ray player and surround sound system to the maker of the best video demonstrating how to get family and friends ready for the analog shutoff coming in February. Head over to the dedicated YouTube channel to check out the entries, and Whiskey Falls promo asking for entries after the break. Voting opens December 1 with a winner selected December 10, any questions?[Via CE Pro]
FCC official predicts "messy" digital TV switch, probably a three sheeter
Don't let the smooth transition experienced in Wilmington and other tests fool you, FCC member Robert McDowell just returned from a tour in Afghanistan Alaska, Montana & Oklahoma, and he's seen things, terrible things. Things that have convinced him that the transition on February 17, 2009 "will be messy ... but we will get through it" when over the air broadcasts go all-digital. Hopefully there's enough time (and money left in the budget) to take care of any problems -- the Government Accountability Office recently found that regulators are unprepared for the demand of consumers in need of help switching.
Wilmington, NC plans one minute analog TV shutoff next week
In an effort to reduce the ZOMG surely to be experienced by whatever percentage of Wilmington, NC residents are unprepared for their early entry into a digital television-only world September 8, the city will perform a one minute Las Vegas-style "soft test" August 19 at 7:30 p.m., prompting customers with analog to upgrade their equipment to receive digital broadcasts. Readers have already reported seeing ads mentioning the upcoming early analog-shutoff, and it looks like the regions main broadcasters (WWAY, WECT, WILM and WSFX) appear to be doing all they can to get the word out, so everybody tell a friend, okay?
Seattle's KING 5 shuts of analog for 30 seconds, select viewers freak out
Up until now, the digital TV transition test markets have seen their tests go over pretty smoothly. Wilmington, Las Vegas and Orlando were able to complete their respective trials without too many issues, but apparently the folks up in the Pacific Northwest aren't nearly as prepared. During a 5:00PM newscast late last week, Seattle's KING 5 simulated an analog cutoff for around half a minute which presented users watching the analog signal with a "snowy" picture. Another test was scheduled for 10:00PM, but the outcry from individuals who "had their television reception interrupted" by the afternoon test forced a postponement. If any of you reading this now just happened to be one of those characters freaking out by the distorted imagery, do yourself a favor and click here to get prepared for the 2009 cutover.
Comcast plans to go all digital in 20% of its markets by year's end
Add Comcast to the list of providers getting very serious about dumping all those bandwidth hogging analog channels and plans to go all digital in 20% of its markets by year's end, and all by 2010. Of course it will have to provide free digital adapters for analog customers per the FCC, but by dropping ~70 analog channels, it'll free up enough space for about 150 HD channels (220 if you don't mind shaving a few bits). We really wonder how well this is going to go over, as we can't expect our mom to give up her simple setup, with super fast changing channels, without a fight. We figure a good percentage of customers will either give up on cable TV completely, while others may finally be enticed to switch to satellite. But honestly, we're not really that concerned, just so long as providers keep all those new HD channels coming.
Sling TR-40 quietly rebadged as the DISH Network DTVPal
Echostar can't seem to decide what brand to put on its upcoming DTV converter box. The device that many DTV converter box shoppers seem to believe will be the one to get, won't be available until June and although we originally heard it would be sold as the Sling Media TR-40, recently the little box has gotten 50 percent smaller and will be called the DISH Network DTVPal. A few sites are already accepting pre-orders that are expected to ship on June 16th, which won't help you very much if you signed up for your voucher on the first day like we did.[Thanks, Josh]
