Obama Supports DTV Delay: MediaBytes with Shelly Palmer January 9, 2009

President-elect Barack Obama has joined the Consumers Union in asking congress to delay the digital television transition. Obama noted "inadequate funding" for the program as a prime reason to delay the transition, which is scheduled to happen 28 days after he steps into office. In addition, the big four networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) support a move to delay the transition.

In a speech yesterday at George Mason University, Barack Obama noted broadband expansion as a key part of his economic recovery plan. Obama is quoted as saying there is a need to expand "broadband across America, so that a small business in a rural town can connect and compete with their counterparts anywhere in the world." The President-elect is also confident that despite the fact that 2 milion Americans lost their job in 2008, we will be able to create 3 million new jobs during his term in office.

Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer told a crowd at CES that 90% of Sony products will be able to connect to the Internet by 2011. Sony is moving quickly on its initiative, with a CyberShot camera capable of sending pictures online already on the market. The move is a logical step in preparing Sony for a networked world where all devices are connected to the web.

Digital Entertainment Group is reporting that DVD sales fell 9% in 2008, while the entire home video market decreased 5.5% over 2007, with total sales at $22.4 billion. The decline is the largest the group has ever recorded. However, while dvd sales fell, Blu-ray spending increased threefold to roughly $750 million.

Plus, today's consulting question, "Is a Microsoft, Yahoo deal back on?" Shelly has the answer on today's MediaBytes.

Shelly Palmer is a consultant and the host of MediaBytes a daily show featuring news you can use about technology, media & entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group LLC and the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV (2008, York House Press). Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NY (the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy® Awards). You can join the MediaBytes mailing list here. Shelly can be reached at [e-mail]

Comments

[RightWingMarine]

inadequate funding? Funding of what? It is the televisino stations problem to come up with funding to make the changes to comply with the law. He must be refering (as he has in other speeches) that the federal govt is still giving our money away to people to buy converter boxes. Why is it the responsibility of you and me to make television available to others? Is the right to watch TV buried somewhere in the Consititution somewhere? For people that don't own a TV at all is it our responsibility to buy one for them?

[Vinca]

I am for delaying the start of DIGATIL TV FOR EVERONE, some can't afford it, at this time