Re: FCC Moves Up Deadline To Convert to Digital TV
au1929 wrote: Why is this conversion necessary? What are the benefits Vs the cost to consumers to convert presently owned sets to digital signal reception? It would seem to be a boon for the manufactures of TV sets. Which I might add are all manufactured off Shore.
The benefits are a much better signal that uses much less of the radio spectrum (which is already over-crowded) and space for additional channels. Digital TV also has the ability to provide interactive programming and a host of other features.
There is little, if any, cost to current set owners since most get their TV signal from a cable or Sat provider and the provider does the conversion from digital to analog as a part of their delivery.
The only people that will suffer are those that have an analog TV and pull their TV reception directly off the airwaves and haven't bought a new TV between now and the point when analog broadcasts are stopped.
IMO, the claim that digital TVs will cost $200-$300 more than an equeal analog TV are out to lunch. You can buy a 27" digital TV at Best Buy right now for $300. The comparable analog model is $179. That's a $120 difference and that's going to continue to drop as more digital TVs become available.