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FCC Says Analog TV Lives Until 2012

Posted by samzenpus on from the and-flip-books-for-another-5-years dept.

walterbays writes ""The FCC voted 5-0 to require that cable operators must continue to make all local broadcasts available to their users, even those with analog televisions." I don't understand how AT&T manages to deliver U-verse without any analog channels. Did they get it classified as not-cable and exempt from existing rules? Or as a result of this vote, will they suddenly have to drop 50 SD channels to make room for 5 NTSC channels?"

5 of 412 comments (clear)

  1. Define Available by Nymz · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is offering a proprietary converter box (digital to analog), for a nice monthly fee, going to qualify as available? That could mean that citizens wouldn't be allowed to purchase any third party devices, essentially enlarging cable operator monopolies.

  2. Re:Welcome to the Dark Ages by Bemopolis · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh no, not another WIndows-vs-Mac debate.

    --
    "I guess the moral of the story is, don't paint your airship with rocket fuel." -- Addison Bain
  3. Great... by zapwow · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now my crackpot friends have something to add to their theories... the Mayan Calendar, the solar system passing through the plane of the galaxy, and the end of analogue tv MUST mean that 2012 is the end of the world!

  4. Re:The digital TV switch isn't going to happen by kestasjk · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe a digital to analog converter will be invented.

    --
    // MD_Update(&m,buf,j);
  5. Re:Welcome to the Dark Ages by mh1997 · · Score: 3, Funny

    4. This ushers in a techno-utopia where your flying car downloads traffic data from the internet and avoids jams automatically, your Skype mobile phone lets you call anywhere in the world for free, and Google brings back Firefly to promote their iPhone-enabled video on demand service.
    Also, as your flying car comes crashing out of the sky because you forgot to fill the fusion chamber with beer and banana peels, it instantly IMs all your contacts that your funural is scheduled for this Saturday at 11AM. With the convergence of technology, your car would also upload the video of your impending demise to youtube so that everyone can see that you were a dumbass.