analogshutoff
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DTV preparedness now more than 95-percent
Here we are, a little more than a month away from the February 17 June 12 analog shutoff date, and sure enough, more people have grabbed hold of a digital tuner in one device or another. According to Nielsen, the number of unprepared homes is now at 3.1-percent (3.5-million homes). To put that in perspective, recall that at the start of February, we were sitting at 5.1-percent. We're pretty impressed that the number has moved below the 5-percent mark, and certainly a lot of credit goes to stations that went ahead with the switch ahead of the June 12 deadline. Zeno and his paradox aside, we've got high hopes that the June 12th date is going to stick, folks!
Number of DTV unready homes drops to 3.8 million
The number of DTV unready homes continues its slide downward, with Nielsen reporting an additional 610,000 prepared as of April 1, leaving 3.8 million to go. Representing 3.4% of U.S. households still unready, that's only a slight uptick over the pace of previous months, but with coupons rolling out it certainly seems that everything is moving smoothly towards the new June 12 deadline.
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.
Number of DTV unready households dips below 4 percent as of March 1
More good news for the digital TV switch, as Nielsen's latest update pegs just 3.9 percent, an improvement of 570,000 homes over last month. The older you are, the more likely you're prepared as the over 55 age group is down to just 2.2 percent unready. Now that the coupon program is funded and running again we wouldn't be surprised to see even more drastic drops before June 12, we're just waiting to grab a set that lights up.
DTV switch rough going for some
Predictably, some folks aren't getting the same reception they used to now that analog broadcasts have (partially) shut off. An AP report featured in USA Today cited stats showing half of the 25,000 calls to the FCC on February 18 were because of reception or antenna issues. As we've known, the effect of the digital cliff and obstructions can make continuing to receive OTA channels a dicey affair depending on where you live. Some have given in and subscribed to cable or satellite, while others are still experimenting with antenna placement, waiting for higher power broadcasts or tower moves, and some have just learned to live without it. Any DTV tales of woe and/or triumph now that we're a couple of weeks past the first stage of the switch?
DTV switch doesn't kill TVs, drunk septuagenarians with guns kill TVs
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/tech_news/DTV_Switch_Doesn_t_Kill_TVs_Drunk_Septuagenarians_w_Guns_Do'; The elderly have been slightly behind in picking up on the DTV transition, so news of a frustrated 70-year old Missouri man doesn't surprise us too much. That the combination of losing his cable and being unable to get a DTV converter working drove him to shoot his TV and cause a short standoff with the police? A bit more shocking. All, however, is explained in one line: "According to the man's wife, he had been drinking." Please, spare your TV and follow instructions.[Via Multichannel News, Image courtesy of Phrank.com / Sledge Hammer]
ION scared off by the DTV transition, postpones debut another month
Seriously, ION, this is getting ridiculous. With a healthy dose of spin, ION TV is delaying its planned February 16 HD launch by a month so it will not coincide with the confusion around the DTV transition. We'll admit that the state of the analog shutoff is a real mess, but somehow we think that any money-making enterprise would want to sweep in with advertiser-loved HD content to put before viewers' eyes. Anyhow, the service is now planning to pull the HD trigger in 20 markets on March 16, and then 25 more markets on what we assume will be perfectly normal, nonconfusing days later in the year.EDIT: reworked a murky sentence for clarity.
How well is the DTV switch going? Depends who you ask
A day into what could have been the all digital broadcasting future, it's hard to tell how the switch is going over. So far the National Association of Broadcasters came out with a statement indicating "encouraging" results, with only a few hundred calls logged in several markets that made the switch to all digital and easy over the phone fixes for most issues. At the same time the AP found confusion caused by print ads scheduled prior to the delay containing out of date information and visited a Rhode Island information center with phones ringing off the hook from callers trying to figure out where their analog TV went. Until things blow over we're not leaving the fortified and cable / satellite / FiOS connected Engadget bunker (you didn't think we were letting that CES trailer go just yet, did you?) until things blow over, let us know how the partially analog TV free world looks where you are.Read - NAB Statement on Feb. 17 Markets Switching to Digital TVRead - 25% of analog TV signals cut off
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)
Converter coupon waitlist still 4 million deep
Sure, Tuesday the 17th doesn't hold the same luster as before, but a key reason for this day coming and passing is the converter coupon program running out of cash. The waiting list recently measured around 4 million strong, with 100,000 or so coupons going out each day as older ones expired and freed up funds. It'll only take two weeks to clear the list completely once the additional funding from the stimulus package comes through, unfortunately too late to avoid a pushback of the DTV switch. Waiting for a coupon and live in a place where all / most of the stations are shutting off analog today? You're still on the same first-come, first-served list as everyone else, but we're sure you followed our advice and picked up the necessary equipment with plenty of time to spare.
Best Buy wants to annoy you into a converter box, takes the DTV PSAs in-store
For the five percent of you who managed to miss the whole analog TV shutoff debacle, select Best Buy locations will be blaring out hourly PSA-style announcements in-store, just to bring you up to speed. Even if you can't hear the hourly chime of impending analog Armageddon over the din of everyday Best Buy activity, personnel milling about in "DTV Blackout Prevention" tees should clue you in to the fact that something is going on. That's your cue to ask what the big deal is, whereupon your salesperson will encourage you to act without delay to keep the OTA flowing into your eyeballs. If you've put things off this long, though, you'll be able to procrastinate another four months, right? Seriously -- just pick up a new converter box if there's one on the shelf, because we really don't want to postpone the switch again, mkay?
FCC approves 368 of 491 stations switching off analog Tuesday
In the daily DTV transition update, the FCC saw fit to hold up 123 of 491 stations planning to shut off analog TV on February 17, based on factors like whether or not there would be any stations still available in a given market. Those 123 can still make a case for going all digital by tomorrow evening, so even this list is not the final one. As it is, 368 stations are definitely making the switch, but with 5 days to go we still don't have a complete list of who is doing what, when, so stay tuned (if you can.)
491 stations still shutting off analog TV next week
Though the prez still hasn't signed off on the delay, the FCC has already compiled a list of 190 TV stations going / gone all digital prior to February 17, plus 491 more that will go ahead with the shutoff as previously scheduled. The four major networks promised their stations will stay on analog until the new June 12 deadline, however that guarantee only extends to the 100 or so they own. If that's not confusing enough, the FCC could still influence broadcasters to keep analog signals going whether they want to or not based on "the public interest," for example if it's necessary to keep at least some stations on in any given market. As it stands, the linked PDFs below will reveal which, if any, of your local broadcasters are switching on Tuesday; hopefully you've followed our advice so far and continue to avoid any predatory schemes.Read - Appendix A (List of all stations ending analog service before or on February 17)Read - Appendix B (List of all full power TV stations, with the 681 stations ending service on or before February 17 indicated in bold)
Latest Nielsen figures put DTV unreadiness at 5.1%
As of February 1, Nielsen is calling 5.8 million homes still completely unready for the DTV transition, 5.1 percent of the population. That's up 700,000 from last month, but still apparently enough to put the kibosh on a February shutoff across the country. Albuquerque-Santa Fe still leads/trails all markets, we'll see if they get any special attention from the FCC and others over the next few months.
How many broadcasters will switch off analog in February no matter what?
The House Rules Committee should be deciding the fate of a possible DTV delay right about now, but no matter what happens, many stations will be shutting down analog broadcasts no matter what. Broadcast Engineering talked to WTVP-TV in Peoria's general manager who claims the station will save $7 - $10k per month in power costs alone, and as such wants to stick with the original transition date rather than continuing to power two transmitters. Two other stations in the area, WEEK-TV and WHOI-TV intend to shut down before June 12 no matter what, assuming the FCC lets them, and they are not alone. Of course, there's still some dispute over how many stations will be able to switch early if the delay passes, due to possible interference with other stations in the area, and thne concerns over how quickly public safety groups can slide into the open spectrum. The final consideration offered: while the current transition date is in the middle of winter weather up north, many coastal states will be two weeks into hurricane season at the time of the June 12 cutoff.
Klipsch horns in on DTV transition madness
In a bit of a creative leap, loudspeaker manufacturer Klipsch is launching a marketing campaign that ties in with the (probably soon-to-be delayed) DTV transition. We're on board with the catchphrase "A high-def picture demands high-def sound," but let's be clear -- the DTV transition isn't going to bring 24/7 high-def video to all your OTA channels, and it certainly isn't going to mean high-def sound will be filling the airwaves, either. Like we said, though, it's hard to deny the fact that most people aren't aware of how atrocious most TVs sound, or how spending a little money on some new speakers can really increase their enjoyment of their systems. Klipsch is hoping its HD Theater 300, 500 and 1000 systems are an ear- and wallet-opening experience for them. So, are you willing to forgive a bit of a marketing stretch for a good cause, or do you lump this right in with cable companies using the DTV transition to scare customers into digital tiers?
Senate okays another digital TV transition delay
Just to make sure that the digital TV transition gets delayed, the US Senate has approved another measure to postpone the transition date until June 12 and sent it on its way to the House of Representatives. If the House's mere indication that the delay would go through didn't dash our hopes of analog-free airwaves next month, the quick-fire nature of this second bill certainly did. Essentially the same as the first proposal, this version with minor edits cleared the Senate unanimously. With the House in recess until next week, we'll have to wait for any movement, but it's looking like we'll be stuck with analog for a while longer. Hopefully, this whole mess will be resolved, because the longer it goes on, the more people will become confused, and maybe join the 22-percent of Americans who are planning to give up on TV altogether.
Rockefeller details DTV Delay Act: No guarantees this is the only one, stations can go all-digital before June
Now that Senator Jay Rockefeller's bill seems likely to pass, we're able to find out more about it, and what compromises were made. Besides heaping blame upon the outgoing administration for this mess (and rightfully so, but since most of the people on Capitol Hill today have been there for several years -- albeit in different positions -- we figure there's plenty to go around), a statement notes this should be the last delay "barring emergencies" but don't expect any guarantees just yet. As it stands, while we still wait for that additional funding to come through for the converter coupon program the bill will allow the NTIA to re-issue coupons to households with expired, unused ones, while letting broadcasters shut off analog before the new June 12 deadline and public safety organizations use the now-vacated spectrum once it's available. Is 115 days enough/too much to straighten things out, or just the new administration delaying what seems like an inevitable PR disaster? Expect more details once it comes to a vote next week.
5.7% (6.5 million) U.S. homes still not DTV ready
One one hand, it's nice to see that the number of U.S. households not ready for the coming analog TV shutoff dropped to 5.7% from 7.7% back in October, but then comes the sobering realization that with 26 days to go, around 6.5 million homes still don't have the necessary equipment to get digital TV. Coming straight from the latest Nielsen report, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Houston top the charts for digital unready markets, with African American and Hispanic households still lagging in percentages of unready homes. Of course, we still don't know if things will take place on schedule, but barring a delay, have a look around and make sure people in your community are ready (or as ready as they can be until the coupon program is back up and running.)
Verizon CEO joins AT&T in backing digital TV delay -- as long as it's short
After initially opposing the Obama administration / Jay Rockefeller digital TV delay -- pushing the analog TV shutoff date back from February 17 to June 12 -- Verizon CEO Ivan Seiderberg has jumped on board with competitor AT&T in support of the plan. Considering Verizon just dropped $9.63 billion on the soon / not-so-soon to be vacated airwaves for its 4G wireless rollout this is an interesting position to take, but it appears that as long as the delay is a mere 115 days he can join AT&T ($7 billion or so invested) in waiting for the DTV converter coupon program to work itself out. Of course, if anyone wants to take advantage of the extra time to subscribe to FiOS or U-verse, we're sure that wouldn't be problem either.
