Sales of OTA antennas continue to surge, no one surprised
by Darren Murph 
posted Mar 4th 2008 at 2:01AM
Early last month, we heard that the DTT receiver market was apt to blossom in the run-up to the US analog shutoff, and now we're seeing that OTA antenna sales are still booming after quite an increase late last year. According to Richard Schneider, President of Antennas Direct, its antenna sales "for the first two months of 2008 are up 125-percent over this time last year, a year that in itself that was up 60-percent over 2006." Granted, one company isn't a gauge for the entire industry, but this particular firm is certainly a mainstay in the sector. Still, it remains to be seen what will happen in the long haul -- particularly when you consider how many satellite subscribers will soon be receiving their locals via DISH / DirecTV when the duo's latest birds finally get launched -- but so long as cable providers keep jacking up those rates, we've all ideas the OTA market will remain quite healthy.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Strap @ Mar 4th 2008 3:29AM
This is probably going to sound crazy, but the best antenna I've found to pick up OTA local HD channels is a run-of-the mill FM radio antenna. I searched high and low, bought powered antennas, cheap antennas, high powered $100+ antennas, and the best one was a free FM wire antenna I got with my stereo. Try it and see.
Siva @ Mar 4th 2008 11:44AM
Big antennas are overkill and probably overload the tuners if the stations are close by. I use a $7 walmart antenna for my TV in the living room and it works better than a more powerful antenna.
I also use a silversensor for the basement and it works even better than an out door antenna.
I live about 12 miles from the towers. And of course I am talking about digital signals only.
Miggity @ Mar 4th 2008 11:02AM
Not to mention the fact that satellite companies locals are compressed to hell. The OTA channels look a lot better than their satellite provided equivalents.
I-Fan @ Mar 4th 2008 11:39AM
More Sophisticated Antennas Required
For Digital Off-Air Signal Reception
As spending tightens in these uncertain economic times, discretionary purchasing has shifted away from other key market categories, to consumer electronics and particularly to digital TV and HD. High Definition Televisions bumped digital cameras out of the top spot for the most desired CE product for 2007. Several dynamics effecting millions of households now relying on analog signals for reception of their broadcast TV signals, with antennas older than 2 years, who need to upgrade to the new antenna technology, along with cable and satellite customers looking for alternatives, have resulted in tremendous sales increases of OTA antennas for Antennas Direct.
The simple fact is that not all antennas are equal, some are better and some are the best for particular reception situations. Tremendous improvements in Off-Air antenna technology and design have taken place in the last few years, making them smaller than ever thought possible, with ultra efficient design and directionality and good looking as well.
According to an article in Ad Age As Giant Retailers Reel, Marketers Gird for Worst, as to one key marketing category, Consumer Electronics, the news appears very positive. Consumers seem to have designated technology as a new necessity, along with food, gasoline and home-heating oil" said the Consumer Electronics Associations group economist, Shawn DuBravac. Ad Age continued Forecasts for 2008 from the CEA and other CE researchers such as iSuppli bear that out, with predictions of overall electronics growth. "Last year, when oil prices were going through the roof, we saw that people said, 'Since we're not traveling, let's spend some of that money on buying a flat-panel TV,'" said iSuppli analyst Riddih Patel.
As for cable and satellite subscribers, an Off-Air Antenna provides many benefits as an additional signal resource. On November 29, 2007, The Bridge Data Group reported overall customer satisfaction with DBS at 72% and cable at only 58% and the likelihood to switch for both at 10%. These numbers might have accounted recently for the attack on a Comcast payment center in Virginia by a 75 year-old hammer wielding grandmother, as reported by CE Pro Magazine. There is only so much room on cable or satellite bandwidth in which to squeeze signal, so data is compressed to fit, resulting in a somewhat "soft" picture. An OTA signal is the gold standard in digital reception because it's almost completely uncompressed and also FREE. But what about those cable or satellite subscribers that want access to all their local broadcasts or all available HD local broadcasts, but cant get them from their present provider.
Local digital TV broadcasts are everywhere. But bandwidth limitations mean that cable and satellite providers may not carry all local channels in many areas, or may not offer all of them in high definition. Contract disagreements between local operators and local broadcasters can mean that major networks may not be available in several areas. DISH Network offers local HD coverage to about 47 percent of U.S. markets, while DIRECTV reaches 76 percent and for an additional monthly fee.
What about those other millions of viewers who want to see their favorite local shows and in HD. The answer is to add an OTA antenna to other signal reception sources. This not only gives a viewer the ability to receive all their local stations, but, with the right Digital antenna from AntennasDirect.com, some viewers may even be able to receive out-of-town channels, which may carry blacked out sports programs or network broadcasts not available in their home town. As an added benefit, an OTA antenna provides back-up reception options for local cable or satellite signal loss due to equipment failure or rain, snow and ice fade and to smaller TVs and second sets in homes not wired for whole-house signal distribution.
pete @ Mar 4th 2008 4:33PM
I agree, I've tested local HD channels on comcast and OTA. OTA was much better and its free.
Well, I had to pay $15 for mounting brackets to re-secure the 15 year antenna.