DTV Coupon Program Out of Money

Thelasko writes "It appears that the US Government's digital converter box program is running out of money. If you sign up after the program runs out of money, you will receive your voucher if the program receives more funding. Older analog televisions will no longer work without a converter box after February 17."

Comments

DTV? Hahahaha

[DeadManCoding]

This is just another item in a long list of stuff that I'm happy to be rid of. Just canceled my cable TV, and no intention of watching shows anymore. I'd rather buy DVDs/BluRay or rent new stuff from Netflix, etc. I can say that I'm quite happy to get rid of the cable box. I've still got broadband, and that's all I'll need.

TV's will still "work", just not for over-the-air

[j-beda]

"Older analog televisions will no longer work without a converter box after February 17."

They will work fine for Cable TV, and as monitors for video games, DVD's, VCR's etc. The only thing that happens on 2009-02-17 is that the local broadcasters will stop providing an analogue signal for these sets to pick up via antenna.

Clarification

[UnknowingFool]

Older analog televisions will no longer receive over the air transmissions without a converter box after February 17. If you have analog cable, it will continue to work as long as the cable companies use analog.

Re:Why is the government even subsidizing this?

[MightyYar]

I don't think the government should be paying for any of this.

Well, then they should give back the billions that they made selling the frequencies. The government is still coming out waaaay ahead on this deal.

Re:Why is the government even subsidizing this?

[bb5ch39t]

You likely would not believe how long my mother continued to watch an old black and white TV. Long after every program was color. And it worked just as well as it ever had. So, color did not make b&w sets useless for watching broadcast television.

get it right will ya, won't work off antenna!

[Locutus]

Gawd, I can't believe people still get this wrong after all the publicity on this. No wonder they are running out of money, they are probably sending coupons and rebates to people not using antenna reception when they don't need to.

FYI, if you subscribe to a cable service, they are not going to stop sending you the RF-over-cable/analog signal. They may try to nudge you to move to a digital converter box but even then, they will provide the digital conversion and you don't need to pay $40+ for one the government is rebating.

Is our education system that screwed up people don't understand this? FYI, that's a rhetorical question, I know the answer.

LoB

Analog televisions WILL work

[RobinH]

There is a lot of confusion about this, but as far as I can tell, your analog television will work *just fine* if you subscribe to cable TV (or at least as well as it always has). This only affects people using over-the-air broadcasts (you know, with rabbit ears and such).

Eventually, cable TV providers will be allowed to drop their analog programming, but some cable companies have already stated that they consider it a competitive advantage that their customers can hook up an extra TV in the garage, bedroom, etc. and get most of the basic channels without having to purchase/rent an expensive digital tuner. For some people, this is an advantage over the satellite option.