Digital cliff could drop more antenna TV viewers than anticipated
When the analog cutoff happens next year, some OTA watchers will need to trade in the bunny ears for upgraded or external antennas (even if they have digital TVs or converter boxes) to continue getting reception. The FCC's estimates on how many viewers will be affected by the "digital cliff" -- weak analog signals can be fuzzy, but still viewable, while digital is clear but simply drops out after a point -- have been disputed market research firm Centris. The numbers vary depending on your particular 'hood and its topography, but Centris' research found the FCC's estimates of 60-75 miles before signal dropout was really more like 35 miles in Las Vegas, Philadelphia and St. Louis. Additionally, it figures as many as 80 percent of viewers have antennas that won't be able to adequately receive digital signal. Anyone planning on picking up a new antenna with that converter?
Filed under: Regulatory, OTA
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GrangerFX @ Feb 11th 2008 6:03PM
100% of people watching TV in football and baseball stadiums will lose reception to all channels next year. The reason is that there are no hand held devices on the market that can actually receive digital TV via a small antenna. There is a mobile digital TV standard under development but I don't think it is going to go live before the shutoff. Try and buy a hand held TV at BestBuy. Guess what? You can't! There used to be loads of portable TVs for sale. Millons have been sold. You can toss them all in the recyling bin come Febuary 2009.
YouFaceTheTick @ Feb 11th 2008 6:45PM
Shrug. Same can be said of the people still trying to use analog cell phones. Sometimes you get left behind.
Sam Winter @ Feb 12th 2008 6:42AM
You can blame that on the format-soup of the USA. Europe and Asia have that taken care of with one universal standard for broadcast TV, cable TV, Satellite TV, and mobile TV. Just like how all their cellphone providers use the same technology. God that shit drives me crazy here in the USA... why the hell can't the FCC mandate standards just like they do with NTSC/ATSC.. You can yell at all the "let the free market decide" conservative idiots..
Matt @ Feb 11th 2008 8:04PM
This post is decieving. It should read "most people may need to move their antennas". I have found that digital tv is actually easier to recieve than analog. As a tv technician I have been able to pull in stations 40 miles from the tower just by using a paper clip.
Galley @ Feb 11th 2008 9:53PM
An antenna is an antenna. An ATSC tuner doesn't care what type you use.
JeffDM @ Feb 14th 2008 5:49PM
Your mileage may vary. My computer tuner can pull in stations by ATSC with good quality that is just snowy crap in NTSC. The same antenna is used for both signal types.
granny down east @ Feb 17th 2008 4:08PM
Just a reminder: your landlord or HOA can't forbid you to put up an outside antenna:
47 C.F.R. Section 1.4000 has been in effect since October 1996, and it prohibits restrictions that impair the installation, maintenance or use of antennas used to receive video programming. The rule applies to video antennas including direct-to-home satellite dishes that are less than one meter (39.37") in diameter (or of any size in Alaska), TV antennas, and wireless cable antennas. The rule prohibits most restrictions that: (1) unreasonably delay or prevent installation, maintenance or use; (2) unreasonably increase the cost of installation, maintenance or use; or (3) preclude reception of an acceptable quality signal.
Effective January 22, 1999, the Commission amended the rule so that it also applies to rental property where the renter has an exclusive use area, such as a balcony or patio.
On October 25, 2000, the Commission further amended the rule so that it applies to customer-end antennas that receive and transmit fixed wireless signals. This amendment became effective on May 25, 2001.