The digital television transition
by Scarlett Miller, posted March 31, 2009
The transition to digital television from analog has been highly publicized and discussed since it was first introduced. The original date for transition was set for Feb. 17, 2009, but as the date neared, rural communities were not yet ready for the change so congress passed the DTV Delay Act, pushing the date back to June, 12, 2009.
The act did not require stations to continue broadcasting in analog and stations may choose to complete the transition before the required date. As of Feb. 17, 2009, about one-third of the nation’s television stations were already broadcasting in full digital.
To prepare, stations have had to make plans to transition, causing some costs and some savings. According to Stacey Woefoel, news director of KOMU, the costs come in the way of new transmitters but they ultimately save on electricity.
The delay act has a negative effect on local news stations because the anticipated savings in electricity won’t come until June. They also have the cost of lost time preparing and advertising for the switch. Now they must run a new campaign about the new date so the viewers are prepared.
Overall, Woefoel is not expecting a drop in local TV viewership because of the transition.
“To put it in perspective, most people don’t receive TV over the airwaves with an antenna; they subscribe to some sort of cable network or have satellite service, which leaves only 20 percent to get digital converter boxes or change the way they receive television,” Woefoel said. “We will not experience a wholesale loss of TV viewership.”
As a consumer, you can receive a coupon for a digital TV converter box or just subscribe to cable or satellite service to prevent your television from going blank. More information can be found at www.dtv2009.gov.
