DtvTransition
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FCC gives in to Dish and DirecTV, so no "carry one, carry all in HD" policy
The FCC has been the driving force behind the digital transition from the very beginning and feels that providers are using the digital transition as an excuse to stop carrying local channels. So, in an attempt to prevent provider's back door deals from interfering with your HD enjoyment, it had proposed a mandate that would require both Dish and DirecTV to carry every HD channel in a market,Me if it carried one HD channel in that market. Meanwhile, Dish and DirecTV both preferred to only carry the big four, citing limited bandwidth. So the FCC has instead given both carriers until 2013 to carry every HD channel in any market where it carries at least one. If only we were a fly on the wall of big cable's office -- the FCC wasn't so kind to them -- to watch 'em get as mad as we do when we can't watch our favorite show in HD.
NCTA, CEA expect some loose ends in digital switchover
In case you missed it in the last couple of EHD podcasts, we've talked about how the logistics of the digital switchover will be handled. With such a ginormous footprint, one thing's for sure: it's not going to come off without a hitch. At a recent luncheon meeting, presidents of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) both expressed as much. NCTA president Kyle McSlarrow seemed more focused on putting more work into the pre-switch side, while the CEA's Gary Shapiro called for cooler heads to prevail after the first hiccups. Seriously, no matter how much information is blasted out, there are going to be some people that are unable (or unwilling) to put together the pieces necessary to keep TV flowing into their homes. It seems like the ads are hitting the targets, so maybe it's best to just start readying the "switchover shock troops" for the days following "day zero." In the meanwhile, EHD readers, try and do your part by helping out confused or unaware friends, family and coworkers!
DTV converter coupons start to arrive, get pictured
Earlier this week, we posted up a poll to find out just how many of you were planning on utilizing those $40 government-issued vouchers just as soon as they arrived in your mailbox. Now, however, we're seeing the first reports of early appliers receiving their pair of coupons in all of their credit card-sized glory. Nothing too special here -- just a couple of wallet-friendly cards good for $40 off (most) DTV converter boxes out there. But being the geeks that we are, we're strangely satisfied with seeing images proving that these are actually real.[Thanks, Alec A.] %Gallery-17161%
Poll: Have you seen a DTV transition commercial?
With less than a year to go until the analog signals go dark, consumer awareness is one of the biggest concerns. While many analyst fear congress hasn't allotted enough money for advertising, we wonder if they've forgotten about all the public service announcement each station is required by the FCC to broadcast in return for the free use of America's airwaves. Some might argue that those who are the most affected have the best chance of catching one of these commercials, as the target audience is people who get their television programming exclusively via OTA antenna, and we'd go a bit further and say the same type don't have commercial skipping DVRs either. But these same people aren't the techy type and might just glance over any commercial not selling food or clothing, but in that case, there's no way to get to them anyways. We've seen a few of these commercials and wonder if the rest of the HD community has caught one yet, if not click through the break and watch. %Poll-10408%
Poll: Will you be getting a DTV converter box?
Now that we've broke it down and explained exactly what you need to do to get prepared for the US analog shutoff, we're curious to see just how many of you will actually be taking the government up on its offer and snagging one or two $40 vouchers. We fully expect the vast majority of you to have no need for one in your main living area, but what about that hand-me-down set you keep in the kids' room / garage to catch Sunday afternoon sporting events while tinkering around? Bottom line: will you be picking up a converter, and if so, what will you be using it for? %Poll-10266%
EchoStar's TR-40 DTV converter box not available 'til June / July
For those of you out there eying EchoStar's $39.99 TR-40 DTV converter box since it first made headlines at CES, we've got tough news. According to TWICE, the critter won't be shipping out until June or July of this year, which could mean that early appliers to coupons will miss out. If you'll recall, those $40 government-issued vouchers have to be redeemed within 90 days of receiving them, and moreover, it seems as if the firm is still deciding what brand name(s) it'll use to market the device. Here's to hoping we see a release closer to June and further from July, eh?
T-minus one year till the US analog shutoff: are you ready?
Surely you knew what today was, right? No? Fret not, as Engadget HD has taken the time to consolidate the plethora of 2009 analog shutoff information into one handy guide. Are you ready for the DTV transition that will be going down exactly one year from today? Find out right over here.
Digital TV upgrade vouchers to go out soon
The digital TV transition might be confusing sales clerks nationwide, but if there's anything that most people understand, it's cold, hard cash -- and if you applied for one of the FCC's switchover coupons, you might want to start checking that mailbox: the $40 vouchers are being mailed out soon. 9,700 stores are already set to accept the coupon for approved digital TV tuners next week, with another 7,000 to come online in the next few months. Of course, only over-the-air television viewers are affected -- cable and satellite customers will continue to be swindled mercilessly by Comcast get TV with no disruption at all when analog broadcasts are switched off.
PSA: not all big box employees understand the DTV transition
Although Circuity City has claimed that its employees are trained and well equipped to handle any questions you may have concerning the digital TV transition, we'd highly recommend taking any advice sales pitches you receive in-store with a sizable spoonful of salt. According to new data from MassPIRG, sales clerks at Best Buy, Circuit City, RadioShack, Target and Wal-Mart "routinely gave inaccurate information about digital TV converter boxes and the government coupon program" when questioned by undercover researchers. Rather than get into what schemes were used (hint: buying a new set was often suggested over picking up an el cheapo converter), here's an overview of the facts. First off, you won't even be affected by the cutover if you receive your local broadcast stations via any means other than over-the-air. Secondly, all that's needed to convert digital OTA signals to signals that your analog set can digest is a (relatively) inexpensive converter box. Lastly, we wouldn't even recommend paying full price for said box -- you know, considering that the government's handing out $40 coupons to anyone who signs up here. So yeah, next time you catch some young buck trying to push that pricey HDTV rather than actually help you out, feel free to put him / her in their place.[Via Electronic House, image courtesy of StarBulletin]
Singapore's StarHub kills seven more analog channels in digital migration
Not quite two years after StarHub brought HDTV to Singapore, the firm has just announced that it pulled the plug on seven more analog channels as it looks to migrate its customers to digital. The affected channels, which include Cinemax and NHK World Premium, have now moved solely to the company's digital tier, forcing subscribers to fork over $4 per month to rent a digital set-top-box if they wish to continue viewing said stations. Currently, those content with analog can only tune into 39 channels, but that number is expected to shrink further in the near future. The way we see it, the move makes more room for HD expansion -- needless to say, that's a-okay with us.
Cox vows to keep analog signals around for three years after cutover
We already heard that the FCC was giving broadcasters a bit more flexibility with the 2009 digital TV switchover, and apparently, Cox Communications is taking full advantage of its rights. According to the cable company's own website, it will be keeping analog signals around for three full years after US television stations switch over to digital broadcasts on February 17, 2009. More specifically, the firm states that it "recognizes that some customers will still have analog-only TVs [after the cutover date]," thus it has promised to continue offering "analog broadcast signals for at least three years after the deadline for those customers that have not upgraded all TVs to Cox Digital Cable." And if you were curious, Cox also proclaims that said signal will be "down-converted from its digital format," but doesn't stop to encourage site visitors to, oh we don't know, apply for a coupon and pick up a DTV converter box. Either way, it's this or hand out free STBs.[Image courtesy of ViandsEnterprises, thanks Student Driver]
Digital Terrestrial Television receiver market to skyrocket, no one surprised
With major retailers kicking analog TVs and DVD recorders sans digital tuners to the curb -- not to mention the whole DTV transition thing -- it's really no shock that digital adoption is forecasted to increase significantly in the coming years. Nevertheless, today's "O RLY?" moment comes to us courtesy of ABI Research, which is estimating that the worldwide Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) receiver market will "grow from 65 million units in 2007 to more than 350 million units in 2013, representing a compound annual growth rate of 32-percent." A pretty big jump, sure, but if we were the betting kind, we'd probably offer up the farm on this one.[Via Widescreen Review]
Public awareness of DTV transition up 80% since 2006, some still in the dark
We've already heard the NTIA's plans to educate consumers as the digital TV transition draws ever closer here in America, and apparently, the efforts so far have been fairly successful. According to new research released by the Consumer Electronics Association, consumer awareness of the looming switchover is up 80-percent since 2006. The study also points out that 72-percent of respondents were schooled courtesy of ads seen on television, while 39-percent heard it through the grapevine (read: "friends and family") and 26-percent found out from the intarwebs. 'Course, we also heard that a whopping 22-percent of folks "had no plans" for the cutover last November, so we're sure there's still a few OTA-only homes out there that have a real shocker comin'.[Via Widescreen Review]
The full list of coupon-eligible DTV converter boxes
Oh sure, we've seen a couple of the forthcoming digital TV converter boxes get pictured and spec'd, but overall, we're still waiting around for information on the bulk of 'em. Thankfully, the gurus over at AfterDawn took the liberty of perusing the depths of the web to assemble a complete list of all coupon-eligible devices. Granted, it's not like you'll find any hidden gems with built-in HD DVD / Blu-ray combo drives or anything, but for those who've already applied for their coupon and can't wait to pick out which box to use it on, check out the read link below.[Thanks, Pertti J.]
Engadget HD discovers how the FCC left early HDTV adopters in the cold
Ringing in the new year, the FCC started their digital TV voucher program yesterday. But all of the early HDTV adopters who were hoping to use a voucher to help offset the cost of a OTA HD set-top-box for their "HD Ready" HDTV are out of luck. So if you're the early adopter type, head over to Engadget HD for the full scoop.
Philips DTV converter boxes get approved, pictured
Up until now, we've heard a whole lot about what these things will do, where you can eventually pick one up and how to apply for your government-issued coupon, but outside of a stray Zenith, we really haven't seen what many DTV converter boxes will actually look like. Now, Philips has announced that three of its digital-to-analog converters have been approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the trio will be sold under the Magnavox / Philco brand names. Reportedly, the Magnavox TB-100MW9 (pictured above), Philco TB-100HH9 and Philco TB-150HH9 (pictured after the jump) will be "available through large retail stores beginning in early 2008" for those in need, and yes, your handy coupon will indeed apply to any of the (admittedly unsightly) three.
John Kneuer resigning as digital TV transition chief
It's been no secret that lawmakers have been sweating the fact that not a whole lot of Americans are truly informed about the quickly approaching 2009 digital TV cutover, and now it seems the effort to spread the word will be led by someone new. John Kneuer, the current head, will be stepping down this month "to pursue new opportunities," leaving the role of administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. An agency spokesman did note that the resignation was Kneuer's "own decision" and that his departure "would have no impact on the preparations for the transition. As it stands, Meredith Baker, deputy assistant secretary, will be stepping in to cover his duties, but the White House should be nominating an official replacement soon enough.
