The End of Analog Television

A few weeks ago, Washington woke up and realized that February 17, 2009 was less than two years away. This wouldn't matter except that it's the day the government has chosen to be the end of analog television.

What does this mean? It depends how you get your television:

Satellite Subscriber (DirecTV and Dish) -- these signals are already digital and you already have a digital set-top box that converts the signal so you can watch it on your old TV set. As of now, you will probably not notice a change and probably won't have to do anything.

Digital Cable & Telephone IPTV Subscribers (Comcast, Time Warner, Charter, Cablevision, Verizon, AT&T, etc.) -- same as above. You probably won't have to do anything different.

Analog Cable Subscribers -- The latest FCC rule, adopted on September 11, 2007, will allow continued access to local stations for cable customers (including those with standard analog cable service) following the transition to digital TV in 2009. This rule applies only to local television stations, not cable networks or premium cable channels and the rule expires in 2012. At that time, you will need digital cable or another solution.

Antenna-only Households -- if you use an antenna to receive your television signals and enjoy free over-the-air television, on February 17, 2009 you will have four options:

Option 1 - Obtain (either with a government issued voucher or with cash) a digital-to-analog (DA) for each of your existing NTSC (National Standards Television Committee) analog television sets. They should cost about $40 each.

What are NTSC analog television sets and how do you know if you have them? It's easy! If your TV has a picture tube there is a 99.9% probability that it is an analog TV. There are a few digital sets with picture tubes floating around and even a few HDTV sets with picture tubes. If you own one, you probably know you own one and you probably also know whether or not it has a digital tuner.

If you purchased a TV set after March 1, 2006 with a picture tube over 27" diagonal, it should have a built-in ATSC (Advanced Systems Television Committee) digital television tuner. This was an FCC rule, but it has not been properly policed. They have cracked down considerably this year.

Option 2 - Buy new ATSC digital compatible television. There are 18 formats of digital television and not all of them are HDTV (High Definition Television). Just to torture you -- all HDTV sets are digital, BUT all digital television sets are not HDTVs.

Option 3 - Call your local cable television company, local telephone company (if they offer television) or your favorite satellite provider and get set-top boxes for all the TV sets in your home you wish to watch past February 17, 2009.

Option 4 - Forget about television. Throw away the old sets and consume your media on your computer, phone, PDA and other alternative devices.

Sound complicated? You bet. And Congress and the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) know it. This week the NAB said that broadcasters will spend $697 million getting the word out. The estimate was based on data from Nielsen.

"Local broadcasters deserve a heaping of praise for their good work in telling Americans about the coming transition to digital TV," said Congressman Fred Upton, ranking Republican (Michigan) on the House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee. "It's especially good to see how they understand that a seamless switch in February of 2009 can only happen if millions of TV viewers each know what's happening and why."

Of course local broadcasters understand what's going to happen on February 17, 2009 -- they're likely to lose a huge chunk of their antenna-only viewers. Of course they want to help educate the public -- antenna-only households dramatically over-index for network shows and artificially inflated ratings help the business.

If you like disaster scenarios, I have one for you. 2009 is not an election year and it is not an Olympic year. The end of analog TV is scheduled to occur in the middle of February Sweeps (the first television ratings book of the year). With millions of antenna-only households gone missing, what will the May Sweeps look like? No political cash, no Olympic cash and, due to missing antenna-only viewers, a measurable ratings decline in households that over-index to the four major networks. Ahhh -- your tax dollars at work.

Shelly Palmer is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group LLC and the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV (2006, Focal Press). Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NY (the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy® Awards). He is the Vice-Chairman of the National Academy of Media Arts & Sciences an organization dedicated to education and leadership in the areas of technology, media and entertainment. Palmer also oversees the Advanced Media Technology Emmy® Awards which honors outstanding achievements in the science and technology of advanced media. You can read Shelly's blog here. Shelly can be reached at [e-mail]

Follow Shelly Palmer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@shelly_palmer

Comments

[NoPCZone]

Thanks NeoCons and Open Market Freaks. This is what you get when the government stays out and doesn't do it's job- a tower of babel.
At the dawn of color TV the FCC adopted a standard and everyone followed. With the HDTV standard, it's been dragging on since the 1980's and it's still a hodgepodge of nonsense.

[SolarPowerGuy]

At the risk of quoting Clarence Thomas: whoop-de-damn-do.

Why don't I care that analog television is coming to an end? I chose your Option 4 a long time ago. Television came to an end for me a long time ago -- the 1980's, to be exact.

We do have an extensive library of DVD's at home, but we refuse to connect our TV to any commercial media source. No cable, not even the antenna.

In 1979, I spent a year of my life living outside of the U.S. I wasn't fluent enough in the local languages to understand the TV, so I stopped watching. When I returned to the United States, the first thing that I noticed was how obnoxious commercials were. I still remember the ad that pushed me over the edge. It was a Jordache jeans commerical, with pre-teens dancing and singing to disco music. Yuck.

I still felt that there was value in keeping myself informed, so at first I switched off only entertainment programming. TV news never actually offended me directly, but I eventually dropped it as well. The Iran-Contra scandal had just broken and Oliver North was lying (umm, testifying) to Congress. At the time I was listening to a private, all-news radio station. On a talk show, one woman called in to gush: "Ollie North looks so good on television!" Clearly, television was selling more than just Jordache jeans. I wanted no part of that.

I found NPR and Pacifica Radio. I found the Internet. I'm not going back. I was fortunate to meet a wonderful woman who also cared little for TV. We are raising our son in a commercial-free home.

So, commercial TV is dying? Hurrah.

[mulegino]

Since most network programming is [and has been for quite a while] just a crap filled venue for advertising, this represents a unique opportunity for Americans of all stripes to finally get the monkey of live television off their backs for good.
People could actually start reading more and seeking out relevant information in more depth and nuance, as well as better quality entertainment.
Early t.v. was pretty innocuous, mostly because of the fact that it didn't take itself too seriously. You had some good shows to watch, but that was about it-no round the clock reality t.v., Mtv, sports talk, entertainment talk-so much incestuous, self referential crap as to degrade the intelligence and aesthetic sense of the average American viewer, not to mention those poor kids who have been raised on Pokemon, hip hop [music?], etc, etc.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

I have seen pictures of the station. It is beautiful. It would make a great beer garden for all those Midwest Germans.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

Sorry folks. I don't know what the hell this post is doing here.

[Kungfublood]

don't worry the black box of big brother will recored every click of your remote viewing habits ,whether it be tapes ,disc's or digital programming. Time spent while the tube is on and what shows you play ,will all be kept for your own protection to be used against you as "secret evidence" at your upcoming trial -without lawyers or public knowledge- have no fear just take it in the rear- insect under observation nation.

[Aunt Shecky]

I thought that being worried about some entity keeping track of "every click of your remote"
was far-fetched, but then again, even the supermarket keeps records of everything grocery item we buy! Come to think of it, our remote has been taking a really long time to switch channels for us -- could it mean that
somebody "Knows" I'm watching MSNBC at 6 a.m.?
Why would they care, though?

[WilliePilgrim]

If people think all the anxiety over this will have any bearing on where the future of media is goin, there is a huge and hugely expensive ornate train station in downtown Cincinnati, decorated and dedicated to the future age of steam transportation, that needs buying.

[Steamboater]

Can someone explain something to me? I have Comcast but no HD broadasting unless I pay extra for it I think. In short, I don't receive HDTV. I think I need a box for it. This is so confusing. Will I be able to receive HDTV without paying extra for the box? My TV was manufactured in 2004.

[GladysKnightsPIP]

First you better have a TV that can show FULL 1080p high definition.

Here in Europe analog TV went out this year. We have always been ahead of the USA in TV and cellphone tech.

[ErnestineBass]

GladysKnightsPIP

...and fuel economy standards and high speed public transportation and health care for all and...

I'd go on, but it's too freakin' depressing.

[DICKERSON3870]

"Steamboater (See profile | I'm a fan of Steamboater)
Can someone explain something to me? I have Comcast but no HD broadasting unless I pay extra for it I think. In short, I don't receive HDTV. I think I need a box for it. This is so confusing. Will I be able to receive HDTV without paying extra for the box? My TV was manufactured in 2004."
THE CABLE COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE THE LOCAL STATIONS' HDTV BROADCAST AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGING EXTRA. WE PAY ONLY FOR THE BROADBAND (ANALOG)TV CHANNELS, BUT THE TELEVISIONS /MEDIA CENTER WITH ATSC TUNERS RECEIVE THE LOCAL STATIONS' HDTV BROADCASTS ON DIGITAL CHANNELS. WE ALSO GET 'ON DEMAND' MOVIES ORDERED BY OTHERS ON ABOUT 20 DIGITAL CHANNELS.

[BeyondKen]

> godlessclif: You have to buy a analog to digital converter box to attach analog recorders to digital sets.

All you need is a composite video cable. One probably came with the VCR.

[MissingAmerica]

My kids and their family have lived without t.v. for a few years, choosing to live during the day and have family movietime at night. Locally, our provider is starting the switchover and raising rates to get the digital box and remote. I would be losing only one station, but it is my favorite, so I cancelled.

I'm practicing t.v. withdrawals, but it's not bad. I'm working on all those projects that were tucked away when the new season started. I figure I have plenty of holiday DVDs to see me through New Years, and many of the shows I miss I can watch online. I will miss that one station but, oh well. Actually, I'm accomplishing much more now.

Life is too short to sit glued to an idiot box watching characters live out a script. I've realized my life has been my own soap opera. Now I have time to write my own script!

[Aunt Shecky]

Good for you, "MissingAmerica"! We should all unplug the idiot box and start reading again.

[ErnestineBass]

Aunt Shecky

Much as I hate to shill...I highly recommend "The Progressive Populist". Absolutely one of the best publications out there, in my humble opinion.
TPP features a full page of Jim Hightower in every issue. Waht could be better than that?

[GoreSavingPlanetForJesus]

At what point did we begin to think that we have a right to a digital television. Another stupid govt program to help people buy something they really don't need. Shameful!

The average American POOR family ($14,000 per year or lower, as per the poll I read) has 2 tv's, a dvd player, a washer & dryer, a fridge filled with food, and 2 cars. Apparently it's the govt's resposibility to help them buy a digital tv also.

I have an idea. Go outside and play with your kids.

[BeyondKen]

How awful! Poor Maverick226 may have to read a book, or (Gasp) go outside and play.

[Maverick226]

Haha, where did that come from? I don't see how you got that from what I wrote. Just curious...

[UncleJimbo]

If TV is really just an advertizing medium and they want us to buy their products and services,why don't they give every taxpayer $1.000 to buy a new Television! Money well spent I think!

[Maverick226]

I can't believe that there is legislation about this. Millions of other things going on, and they legislate this. Not only that, but they picked a hell of a date to do it. Why not wait until summer? At least then I can say goodbye to my shows before I throw my TV out the window.

Question: Under option 1, what's the "government issued voucher"? Any more details on that?

[InofTouch]

problem is that not everyone well get or has the ablity to get digital...even as the cost of big screen tv are going down...So analog is a place where everyone was on equal playing feel and now people are going to be left out.

[realitytrumpsbull]

How about the 'off' channel?