Are you ready for the move to digital TV? I hope so because you may lose your favorite TV channels on February 17 if President Barack Obama does not pass the bill to delay the transition from analog to digital television. The news coverage of this digital TV (DTV) transition has been booming lately, as thousands of TV owners purchase digital converter boxes to prepare for the change.
I believe that it is important for news channels and other news sources to inform the public about what is going on during this DTV transition as much as possible because the change will affect all TV owners. Currently, broadcast stations in all U.S. markets are broadcasting in both analog and digital signals. However, according to WPRI.com Eyewitness News, "The U.S. Congress mandated that February 17, 2009 would be the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog." This means that any one who receives analog broadcasts through TV antennas will not be able to watch TV. TV owners are also required to buy digital converter boxes for each television set to prevent the loss of channels (Federal Citizen Information Center).
The media is doing an excellent job at covering DTV news in a timely manner. Just today, more than twenty news articles about the decision to postpone the DTV transition date were published by 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. According to Joelle Tessler, an AP technology writer, "The House voted today to postpone the shutdown of analog TV signals to June 12, to address growing concerns that too many Americans won't be ready in time for the Feb. 17 deadline that Congress had set three years ago." The bill now heads to President Obama for his signature, since The Senate already passed the measure last week, wrote Tessler.
Most of the news stories about this matter state the same information. However, there aren't very many quotes from the public stating opinions about the DTV transition. I thought it would be more insightful if the articles included American citizens stating their feelings about the move to digital. I, personally, think it's a good thing in the long run, but I think early transition would affect thousands of TV owners, especially the elder, less wealthy, and less educated people.
According to CNN.com, Congress wants to postpone the transition date "because millions of people -- many of them poor, disabled and elderly -- have been unprepared to make the switch".
If the transition remains for Feb. 17, "an estimated 6.5 million U.S. households will be unprepared" (Chicago Sun Times).
"The change is being required because digital signals are more efficient than analog, and ending analog will free up valuable space in the nation's airwaves," wrote Tessler.
According to The National Association of Broadcasters, "the benefits of DTV are remarkable. The new type of broadcasting technology delivers movie-quality pictures and sound, more channels and even high definition television (HDTV) to consumers with HD television sets."
Jeff Bertolucci, a writer for PC World, is eager for the switchover in his article Digital TV Delay Bill: Pass It Already!
According to an article from the Associated Press on Boston.com, Hawaii residents are even more anxious for the change because the transition can harm a Hawaiian endangered bird. "Hawaii's change is happening now so analog towers can be taken down before the nesting season of the dark-rumped petrel."
There is an abundance of great news coverage on this matter. I am interested in seeing what happens next during this transition and how everyone in the U.S. nation takes it. Good luck, and don't forget to buy your converter box!
References:
(2009 January 15). Hawaii's move to digital TV scrutinized. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from Boston.com Web site: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/01/15/hawaiis_move_to_digital_tv_scrutinized/
(2009 February 4). DTV Click here for complete information regarding the Digital Television transition. The Digital Transition FAQs. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from WPRI.com Eyewitness News Web site:
http://www.wpri.com/dpp/about_us/operations/local_wpri_digital_transition_faqs_20090204
(2007 March 2). Moving from Analog to Digital TV. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from Federal Citizen Information Center Pueblo, Colorado Web site: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cfocus/cfdtv07/focus.htm
Bertolucci, Jeff (2009 February 2). Digital TV Delay Bill: Pass It Already!. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from PC World Web site: http://www.pcworld.com/article/158763/digital_tv_delay_bill_pass_it_already.html
CNN (2009 February 4). House set to vote again on digital TV delay. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from CNN.com/technology Web site: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/02/04/digital.tv.delay.vote/index.html
Move to digital TV back on track for Feb. 17. (2009 January 28). Chicago Sun Times, p. A3.
National Association of Broadcasters, (2008 November 7). Understanding the Move To Digital TV. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from KDKA - Pittsburgh's Source for Breaking News, Weather, and Sports Web site:
http://kdka.com/seenon/Digital.TV.Digital.2.479726.html
Oxman, Jason (2007 May 1). U.S. is ready to move to digital TV. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from CNET News Web site: http://news.cnet.com/2010-1041_3-6180235.html
Tessler, Joelle (2009 February 4). Congress postpones digital TV transition to June. Retrieved February 4, 2009, from Newsvine.com Web site: http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2009/02/04/2395410-congress-postpones-digital-tv-transition-to-june
Leslie: You're right, this is a huge story, so it's no wonder the media had this blanketed. Good list of sources. No need to quote the stories themselves. That's sometimes a good technique for blogging, but for this assignment, I'd rather hear more about your interpretation of the coverage. Dark-rumped petrel, eh? Now there's a story! Score: 8/10
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