Jan 2009 Deadline for HDTV Cutoff

stlhawkeye writes "Broadcasters have recently accepted a deadline of January 2009 for the mandatory end of analog television signal broadcasts. Broadcasters have expressed concerns that those without subscription television services will see blank screens unless they buy new units. "

Comments

Not an HDTV cutoff.

[sweeney37]

this is the cutoff to convert to DTV not HDTV. how is the public supposed to figure it out if even the nerds can't get it right?

Mike

Re:Not an HDTV cutoff.

[Chosen Reject]

Except that DTV and HDTV are the same size in terms of radio spectrum. HDTV = High Definition Television, which is done digitally. DTV = Digital Television. So HDTV is a subset of DTV. No one is ever going to be forced to broadcast HDTV. They are being told by the FCC to go digital. That is all. There is no cutoff to switch to HDTV. Some stations are even planning on still broadcasting at low resolutions and thus be able to fit in the same spectrum different shows (it's called multi-casting http://www.pbs.org/opb/crashcourse/digital_v_analo g/multicast.html). What resolution a broadcaster decides to send their signals in is their choice, but they must do it in digital.

That is good news!

[homerules]

Broadcasters have expressed concerns that those without subscription television services will see blank screens unless they buy new units.

Those without HDTV will see a huge jump in programing quality.

Re:Absolutely unncessary!

[Shkuey]

First of all this has NOTHING TO DO WITH HIGH DEFINITION.

It has everything to do with digital broadcasting taking up FAR LESS of the broadcast spectrum that they want to free up for other uses. If the government doesn't step in, that huge portion of the spectrum would be tied up in archaic uses forever!

Re:Great...

[Shadow Wrought]

Why are Americans so resistant to change??

Considering that a good portion of populace is still fighting against evolution, I think it might be pathalogical at this point.