Will a new law make your TV obsolete?
Will a new law make your TV obsolete?
The United States government is requiring TV stations to cease
broadcasting analog channels. April 7th, 2009 is the current
date the FCC is requiring U.S. stations to broadcast using
digital signals instead of existing analog signals. With a
conversion date slightly over three years from now and little
publicity on the topic, what is an American consumer to do?
First, let's take a look at what is driving these changes and
then we'll look at what options American consumers have
regarding their home television sets.
Why convert to digital TV?
There are three main factors driving the industry change from
analog signals to digital. Standardized digital conversion will
create a common and effective way for TV broadcasters to encrypt
their content and protect against piracy. Digital content not
only provides better content for viewers, but perfect
reproduction for content piracy. No longer is there a "copy of a
copy" effect. Every reproduction of digital content is as clear
as the original. Existing laws and standards don't allow
broadcasters to protect their content because they have to
provide analog versions. The conversion to digital broadcast
will allow encryption to be employed.
The second reason for digital TV conversion is to raise money
through the sale of frequency spectrums. VHF (Very high
frequency) channels are currently used for TV stations 2-13, but
that frequency range is also used for FM radio, navigation
systems, aircraft communications and two-way radios for police,
taxis and marine communications. UHF
(Ultra high frequency) channels are used for all other TV
stations that are not digital. This frequency range is also used
currently for cell phones, cordless phones, wireless networking,
ham radio and other licensed two-way communications (GMRS, FRS)
and microwave ovens.
During the mid 90's the FCC auctioned PCS spectrum frequencies, which
current digital cellular phones operate on and generated over
$7.7 billion in revenue for the A and B blocks alone. When TV
stations convert to digital frequencies, the FCC plans to
auction the newly available spectrum to the highest bidder.
Revenues from this auction are expected to exceed $10 billion
with $5 billion legislated to pa
y down the federal deficit.
The final reason driving the conversion to digital broadcast
comes from providers themselves. In addition to being able to
protect their content, TV stations will be able to provid
e better content. Digital TV will be broadcast in higher
resolution, meaning your picture will be clearer and sharper.
The aspect ratio, the way the picture is displayed, will be
different...more like the way movies in theaters are displayed.
Think rectangle instead of square. Digital TV will also supply
Dolby digital surround sound. Most importantly though is the
ability to broadcast more than one channel at a time. For
instance, HBO currently
broadcasts eight channels on digital cable and digital
satellite. Subscribers who have analog cable only receive
one HBO channel.
Is a new TV required?
So what does all this information mean to American TV watchers?
First of all, you won't necessarily have to buy a new TV. If
you're one of the less than 30% who still watches TV using only
an antenna, your TV will go blank on April 7th, 2009, but you'll
be able to fix that situation using a digital converter box
instead of buying a new TV. The consumer electronics industry is
hoping the price point of that device will be less than $70. For the remaining 70% of American
TV watchers who subscribe to cable or digital satellite
services, your current set top box will act as the converter
for your TV. However, some features that only a new digital TV
will have is the ability to display the full digital resolution
and the wide screen aspect ratio.
Another benefit to a digital TV is you won't need a separate
cable or satellite receiver. Digital TVs have those tuners built
in, but you may need a decoder card to receive subscription
based programming. Cable and digital satellite providers plan on
providing video on demand using these cards instead of a set top
box.
Digital TVs are already on the market and you may have one
without even knowing it! All large screen TVs, 36" and above,
were required to be digital ready July 1, 2005. Intermediate
sized TVs, 25" to 36" are scheduled to be digital ready by July
1, 2006 and all TVs above 13" should be digital ready by March
1, 2007. This should be in plenty of time to meet the 2009
legislation. Manufacturers are hoping the deadline will be moved
up as are certain members of Congress like Senator John McCain
of Arizona.
Will consumers know the difference?
The adoption of HDTV is a good measure of how consumers will
respond to digital TV. Purchases of HDTVs have been strong,
especially with prices dropping, but there is still a lot of
confusion between the different types of TVs available and the
required HDTV services. A December survey by Forrester Research
showed that while 16 million Americans have purchased HDTV sets,
less than half of them have registered for services that will
allow them to view it.
Some HDTV programming is provided "in the clear," but cable or
satellite customers need to have a special set top box or
decoder (CableCard) to view programming in HD. The biggest
reason consumers gave for not obtaining the proper programming
options to receive HDTV was they felt the picture quality was al
ready improved just by the purchase of the HDTV set.
Cable and satellite providers will be providing consumer
education over the coming year to educate them about the
additional requirements for viewing HDTV. Hopefully, this
education programming will help raise awareness for the Digital
TV conversion of 2009 as well.
Digital television - the bottom line.
The 2009 digital TV conversion should benefit consumers in ways
they can't even imagine. It won't require everybody to purchase
a new television set. Manufacturers and retailers will continue
to provide analog TVs as the law allows over the next 24 months
and new VCRs and DVD players will be made with both analog and
digital tuners. TV content providers will be able to provide
better and more interactive content for viewers because of a
defined digital TV standard. And other consumer electronic
communication devices will be made better because of expanded
frequency availability for things like cordless phones, cell
phones and walkie-talkies of all varieties. Digital TV should be
a very good thing indeed.