The Sac Bee has just reported that “On Feb. 18, 2009, tens of millions of televisions that are not equipped to receive digital signals will become useless pieces of furniture. The government is spending $5 million to let owners know so they can do something about it – not enough, critics say.”
To read the entire story simply click on: http://www.sacbee.com/838/story/293299.html
In their article they mention that “21 million households–roughly 19 percent of the nation– rely on an antenna rather than cable or satellite to receive television signals.”
Talk about design obsolescence. Without a converter box or satellite for reception you will not be receiving the old standard analog signal beyond Feb. 17, 2009.
Don’t say you didn’t receive this public service notification from the Orange Juice.
If your current TV is not equipped to handle the changeover from analog to digital I would start saving some bucks. Progress comes at a price, even when you may be perfectly happy with your current TV reception.
While I have been aware of this change for some time it is not too early nor too late to give it some thought.
Will you be one of those forced to buy a new TV? If so, how do you feel about this major purchase that you may not have planned for?
Anyone that is surprised by this news now has been oblivious to many media stories over the last few years about this move to digitial broadcasts and what it means for old (pre-digital) t.v.’s If it is a surprise, then you probably are also unaware that the USA landed a man on the moon some years back —-
Well, how this will all work out is still a little fuzzy to me, but here is “the place” to at least find out more.
http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html
From there, go back to the home page if you want more info.
Anonymous 8:18 PM
While you and I were both aware of the revised format there may be others who do not or perhaps have not kept up with this story. That may be why the Sacramento Bee felt compelled to publish it YESTERDAY. Or perhaps it was a slow news day.
Thanks for your post anyway.
Are you sure we landed a man on the moon. Were you there to witness it? I think he actually landed in Area 51. Larry
No. 3, this is No. 1. Regarding the moon landing, I’m never totally sure about anything! I thought about saying “probalby unaware also that WWII ended” but then again, I’m not sure about that either.
http://www.dtvtransition.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=29#7
Anonymous 10:03 AM
As we still have thousands of US troops in Europe are you sure that World war II has indeed ended? We could make the same (silly) comment about Korea 50 years later.
I still think our astronauts were so drunk while in flight that they landed in Area 51. As this location is locked up like Fort Knox can you prove otherwise?
And lastly. Has FOX’s Geraldo Rivera been to the Fort as he went to the Chicago vault to give us assurance that our gold is still under lock and key?
We do need to lighten up at times.
Yes, Larry, we do and you are doing a good job of adding a chuckle or two. As for Hiraldo, I think that safe job was not in an old Chicago building but was in a sound stage in Burbank, right next to a set that looks like the surface of the moon.
#1 anonymous.
Funny that I just read today’s LA Times, Friday July 27th, where the above the fold headline of page C3 reads: “dark times feared for TV digital switch.”
This is a post that needed to be made. Hopefully the public will be prepared when the time comes for the changeover.