Actually, it's not 99% in the USA, it's somewhere between 80% and 90% of households, depending on
what statistics you believe. Also note that there are enough antenna-only users in urban areas that
the switchoff of NTSC transmitters was delayed in order to give complaining masses (or very loud
small groups) enough time to get their government handout coupons and get a converter box in place.
For us cable people, as I understand it, the FCC left it hanging fire for 5 years but the day will
come when a wire to our analog NTSC TV won't work anymore. At that point, unless there is a system
in place where I do not have to have a costly and cumbersome cable box with every TV, I will be done
with television. Supposedly there will be a standardized "cable card" in flat-panel TV's that will
then just plug into the wall like the analog wire does now for those of us without digital cable or
deluxe/extra-channels packages.
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven C. Barr" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 11:20 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Digital broadcast (Long Response)
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robert Cham" <[log in to unmask]>
>> At last something that I might know more about than most of you. This is only the opinion of
>> someone who has worked as a broadcast engineer for many years, and seen many ugly things that
>> were never acknowledged by the participants, not necessarily the prevalent view. End of
>> disclaimer!
>>
>> The prime reason for the digital transition in TV was indeed Congress wishing to sell off
>> bandwidth freed up by the greater bandwidth efficiency of digital.
> Keep in mind that about 99.9% of TV viewers receive their signal on
> cable! There may be a VERY few areas in North America without
> cable, but I would guess that such places also have minimal (if any?)
> off-air TV signals available without a large tower...?!
>
> 50+ years ago, when I first encountered television, I lived in a small
> Illinois town. We had about half a dozen TV stations...IF one had a
> 30-foot tower and an antenna rotator...?! Waynesville now has cable
> television...the only folks who don't are, I would guess, most of the
> farmers who don't live "in town!"
>
> Steven C. Barr
>
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