And so it begins: The end of analog television

[Taxi]

Best Buy stops selling analog TV as of October 1

[limacharliewhiskey]

Originally Posted by Taxi

Best Buy stops selling analog TV as of October 1

It's not as big a deal now, with 32" and 37" HDTVs in the more affordable $600-800 range, and even 42" at $1000-1100.

A couple of years ago, those 37" TVs were in the $2000 range, while the 42" were in the $3000-4000 area.

Whether this will have a direct impact on Blu-Ray or HD-DVD picking up in sales or one format becoming more accepted, that remains to be seen. But it should be a step in the direction of HD becoming more of an accepted standard.

[Vonner]

That's some pretty telling evidence in your link....

[limacharliewhiskey]

Originally Posted by Vonner

That's some pretty telling evidence in your link....

I get the news article when I click on the link.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by limacharliewhiskey

I get the news article when I click on the link.

Same here.

Peace...

[ganthc]

Good. Sometimes you have to force progress on people. I think it's good planning to sell the converter boxes earlier. The sooner we can get the analog channels off, the more space is left open for HD channels.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by ganthc

The sooner we can get the analog channels off, the more space is left open for HD channels.

As long as extra compression doesn't come into play (DTV).

Also, I assume now is the time to look for deals on analog tv's for those relatives who have an antenna only. Getting Grandma or whoever a 36" tube for a $100 bucks would make her smile!

[firestorm]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

Also, I assume now is the time to look for deals on analog tv's for those relatives who have an antenna only. Getting Grandma or whoever a 36" tube for a $100 bucks would make her smile!

Only until NTSC goes dark. Well, unless she has CATV or a dish. I swear that I heard that non-HDTV ATSC terrestrial tuners/receivers would be available for under $50 by now, but I haven't come across any. Also, this does not mean they won't be selling 480i televisions any longer, thereby forcing everyone into HD. Just that they will all have ATSC tuners; some still have NTSC tuners. HD is only a subset of the new standard. AFAIK, there are still a lot of ~20" tube digital sets.

[plissken99]

Good to see this, as a Best Buy employee I'm relieved. Whenever I see people looking at the half dozen tube sets we have left, I simply have nothing to say to them.

[Derb]

No worries up north, Analog is here to stay.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by plissken99

Good to see this, as a Best Buy employee I'm relieved. Whenever I see people looking at the half dozen tube sets we have left, I simply have nothing to say to them.

Well, there is an excuse if it's not your main TV but just one that you'll give to your kid as he goes to college or to put in the guest bedroom.

[umainebearman]

Originally Posted by ganthc

Good. Sometimes you have to force progress on people. I think it's good planning to sell the converter boxes earlier. The sooner we can get the analog channels off, the more space is left open for HD channels.

Yeah and people like direct tv can stop ripping people off by charging customers for HD channels when thats all there will be in a year or 2.

[plissken99]

Does this mean everything will be in HD, or that they will just be standard def but digitally broadcasted?

[umainebearman]

Isn't it by a certain date it all has to be broadcast in hd?

[plissken99]

Originally Posted by umainebearman

Isn't it by a certain date it all has to be broadcast in hd?

Feb 2009, thats what I thought. See I work at Best Buy so I look at signs for it all day, and they say "everything goes digital", not necissarily HD. So I'm not sure there

[firestorm]

Everything I've read indicates that the 2009 date is a cutoff for NTSC only, not SDTV. Considering HDTV is only a subset of the new ATSC standard, I see no reason stations couldn't continue to broadcast SDTV. But, in the interest of maintaining or gaining viewers, and the fact that stations have had to upgrade anyway, my guess is most will broadcast an HD signal, even if much is upconverted from SDTV. That's certainly the case with our local stations, and while there is considerably more HD content now, there is still a lot of SDTV programs; particularly reruns of older shows (I don't know if they upconvert though).

[limacharliewhiskey]

I've always understood the Feb. 2009 cutoff as for broadcasts being digital, not necessarily HD. I think some PBS stations broadcast some SD stuff in widescreen, and Fox and CBS do broadcast some football games in SD. I think these will continue after Feb. 2009.

[Iguana Man]

Perhaps this helps a little? Link

The only thing that seems to be as confusing as HDTF is the whole issue about the end of analog television broadcasts on February 17, 2009. Here’s the straight scoop; on that day, local television stations will cease their analog broadcasts of television content. They will continue the free digital broadcasts that are already available. You will need a television with a digital (ATSC) tuner to receive these signals, or a converter box that will translate them so that an analog set can display the content. This changeover does not affect people already using settop boxes from cable or satellite TV services; those will continue to work just as they do now.

Well, at least that’s what I thought. Then I ran across the Community Broadcasters Association (CBA). This organization includes “low power” television broadcasters. Here’s how the FCC describes low power stations:

“The Low Power Television Service (LPTV) was established by the Federal Communication Commission in 1982. It was primarily intended to provide opportunities for locally-oriented television service in small communities, both rural communities and individual communities within larger urban areas. LPTV presents a less expensive and very flexible means of delivering programming tailored to the interests of viewers in small localized areas, providing a means of local self-expression. In addition, LPTV has created abundant opportunities for new entry into television broadcasting, and it has permitted fuller use of the broadcast spectrum. LPTV branch is also responsible for processing application for Television Translator stations. TV Translator stations are stations in the broadcast service operated for the purpose of retransmitting the programs and signals of a TV broadcast station.”

As of September 2006, there were 2,189 licensed low power stations, 568 Class A stations, and another 4,717 repeater stations. These far outnumber the 1,754 full power commercial and educational stations. The analog cut-off only applies to the full power stations; the remainder can and likely will continue their analog broadcasts, according to comments submitted by the CBA to the FCC. The CBA points out that Class A and low power TV stations often serve minority, ethnic, and other niche audiences that may be underserved by the full power TV, cable, and satellite broadcasters.

So in spite of my best efforts to spread accurate information about the digital television broadcast transition, it looks as though I didn’t have the whole story. There will be use for those analog tuners after February 17, 2009 after all, and I apologize to all the low power and Class A broadcasters and their audiences for adding to the confusion.

[umainebearman]

Well I guess that pretty much answers the question. Just digital not HD. I remember hearing of the law when it first came to be. It was so long ago HDTVs weren't even around but now all the HDTVs out there have the tuners necessary to receive the digital signals most won't have to worry about getting a box.