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Posted: Feb 05 2009 02:57 pm

So Congress has decided to push back the launch of digital TV from Feb 17th until June 12th, citing that there was been public confusion about digital TV.

Oh really?

BECAUSE NEARLY EVERY FUCKING CHANNEL HAS BEEN RUNNING COMMERCIALS EXPLAINING HOW IT WORKS SINCE THE FUCKING SUMMER.

It's not a difficult concept, most people won't even be effected, and if you're too dumb to understand what's going on, you don't deserve TV anyway. You should be reading a book or something.

Joined: Feb 24 2006 Posts: 2578

Confusion isn't the only reason, though.

The Digital Bits wrote:

The idea behind the delay is that 6.5 million people are still unprepared for analog broadcasting to be discontinued here in the States, while 1.8 million of those are still on a waiting list for converter box coupons from the Government.

Posted: Feb 05 2009 03:03 pm

I agree Syd, When the announcement came out that they were making the switch, it took me a week to get a digital converter box.

Posted: Feb 05 2009 03:03 pm

I thought it was more because of a general lack of organization, such as not enough boxes for potential vouchers and confusion as to where to acquire said boxes. I don't really know much about it though, because everyone I know has fucking cable.

Joined: Apr 14 2006 Location: Lake Michigan Posts: 3332

Yeah, I think the backlog on the coupons is the biggest problem.

I really just don't understand why this has been such a big deal. Everyone I know from various financial backgrounds has either cable or satellite and therefore will not be affected. My grandparents are the only ones that I know with an antenna and had to buy the box with a gov't coupon.

Is the portion of the country without cable or satellite really that big? As far as I can tell, everyone buys one or the other whether they can afford it or not.

Posted: Feb 05 2009 03:06 pm

Also as a side note: why the fuck are people getting a voucher for this box? Since when was television a necessity that required government assistance. I thought it was for entertainment. Maybe the gov can kick me down some cash for my cell phone bill. I thought we were in a recession.

Posted: Feb 05 2009 03:06 pm

Yeah, the last time I met someone without cable was either 1993 or 1994.

Joined: Apr 14 2006 Location: Lake Michigan Posts: 3332

It is kind of stupid Burt, but I think the reason is because for sixty years one could access the broadcast channels for free as long as they owned a television and antenna that they bought from the store. Now, the government is mandating that a converter box is necessary. So, because the government is forcing something else to buy due to regulations, they feel people shouldn't be forced to buy something to watch channels they used to get for free. Still bogus, though.

Posted: Feb 05 2009 03:09 pm

I don't see what the big deal is. Most of tv is crap anyway.

Joined: Apr 14 2006 Location: Lake Michigan Posts: 3332

Not according to Brazilian courts:

Judge rules TV essential, awards damages

Posted: Feb 05 2009 03:29 pm

Newer TVs have the box built-in. Will the government give me money to buy a new TV?

UsaSatsui's Youtube Channel · Posted: Feb 05 2009 03:37 pm

Have Dish. Don't care.

Joined: Feb 24 2006 Posts: 2578

Cattivo wrote:

Is the portion of the country without cable or satellite really that big? As far as I can tell, everyone buys one or the other whether they can afford it or not.

I don't have either one. No rabbit ears either. I just don't watch television -- which means I'm decidedly in the minority. Wink

Posted: Feb 05 2009 04:01 pm

DarkMaze wrote:

Cattivo wrote:

Is the portion of the country without cable or satellite really that big? As far as I can tell, everyone buys one or the other whether they can afford it or not.

I don't have either one. No rabbit ears either. I just don't watch television -- which means I'm decidedly in the minority. Wink

I should follow suit. I often wonder why I continually pay 50 bucks a month for cable when I almost never watch tv. I occasionally watch an on demand movie, or a little adult swim if I can't sleep. I was never a big tv watcher, but in the last year or so, I've reduced my tv watching to almost 0. I usually see more tv in a day at a friends house, than I likely will all month at home.

Docinsano's Channel 63 · Posted: Feb 05 2009 04:01 pm

DIGITAL TV CAN SUCK MY ASS AND GO TO HELL!!!!!!!!!! yeah i'm getting cable soon hopefully.....

Posted: Feb 05 2009 04:02 pm

But if TV was something you were interested in, you'd most likely have cable or a converter box by now.

Posted: Feb 05 2009 04:07 pm

People need to buck up and get with it. Recession or otherwise... this has been planned for a long time.

Docinsano's Channel 63 · Posted: Feb 05 2009 04:11 pm

I really could care less about all this. If I want TV, there's ways to get the shows I want without a stupid converter box. Of course, I am going to get a cable TV/internet deal soon, but really all i want/need is the internet. I could care less about TV half the time, although, it is nice to be with the times and to be able to watch TV at 3 am when normal brodcast TV is usually off the air. My point is that people are probably just going to watch internet TV rather than upgrade. At least that's what I heard on NPR one night....

Title: Titlating Joined: Dec 17 2007 Posts: 5042

I think this is mostly because like maze said/quoted people are still on a wait list and this is to sort people out?

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

I've talked to the guy who runs the stations here in Utah and he says he isn't going to take down the analog tv ones until they are broken

Edit: I had regular tv until July 2008

Posted: Feb 05 2009 06:10 pm

Think all of the useless Watchmans and tv tuner adapters for the Game Gear & Turbo Express that will soon be collecting dust.

Joined: Feb 24 2006 Posts: 2578

hacker wrote:

I've talked to the guy who runs the stations here in Utah and he says he isn't going to take down the analog tv ones until they are broken

Just one guy runs all the TV stations in Utah? That's the most ridicu...

Wait, no, actually I can believe that.

Posted: Feb 05 2009 06:23 pm

Syd Lexia wrote:

Yeah, the last time I met someone without cable was either 1993 or 1994.

Well now you can change that to 2009. Embarrassed

If I had the time to watch it I might have it.

Posted: Feb 05 2009 06:29 pm

Haven't actually met you Razz

Valdronius has though.

Posted: Feb 05 2009 07:31 pm

Well, there goes my birthday present. Sad