It has been interesting to see all the viewer comments about our Future of Television Series. Thank you all.
First a note about the Hulu web site, a joint venture of NBC/Universal and News Corp. I said in last night’s report that NBC would be selling TV shows there. In fact, the site will be ad-supported, so viewers will not have to pay to view. The site is not yet open to the public.
Also for all those who had questions about the switch to digital TV coming February 17, 2009, I’m afraid answers are not always easy to come by. The switch directly impacts only those TV sets which receive an over-the-air broadcast signal. If you are wired to a cable provider, or a central antenna system, it will be up to your provider to decide if you have to do anything to continue receiving the signal. Most likely, you will not. Nor should you have to do anything if you receive a satellite signal. As one correspondent observed, there is a whole class of “low powered” television systems which may be affected in adverse ways. This is not getting much attention because so few people are involved.
We checked with Nielsen Media Research and found that it doesn't have any audience statistics for these LPTV stations. If you watch a low powered station, your best bet is to contact the station itself to see what you need to do to keep viewing.
The Federal government regulates TV so, as you might expect, the Federal Communications Commission has some definite thoughts on the TV revolution. We’ll hear from Chairman Kevin Martin tonight in the 4th and concluding part of our series. We’ll also take a look at the impact TV is having on the Presidential campaign this year, and I’ll show you a neat little inexpensive system you can use to make you own TV programs with most of the bells and whistles the professionals use.
I’ll see you on the TV.
Comments
Stu -
You make an interesting point. I am going to forward your email to PBS headquarters -- where the DTV promotions are developed. But, you might also want to email it yourself. Here's the page on the PBS website you need to use: http://www.pbs.org/aboutsite/aboutsite_emailform.html
The current PBS "ad" for viewers about the conversion ("This Old House" crew is involved) contains one outright error: if you have cable service you are "good to go" (is the way it is put). My sister, in a New York City apartment building with service from RCN but whose tv is not digital, got totally blanked out the other day when RCN switched. She had to buy a converter box. Why tell you, as you seem to recognize the problem? Who else to contact at PBS about it?
I bet you have a Sony DVD recorder, they have this problem. If you had a panasonic DVD recorder it will record the programs fine.
Mary Ann -
For more information about the DTV converter vouchers, check out this website: TV Converter Box Coupon Program.
How do I get the coupons that will help me get the converters?? Need ASAP. Thanks
I need info-I live in LV- no cable-just inside antenna. I have a Mitsubishi hdtv and an analog panasonic dvd/vhr recorder. I have two coupons. AT this point(reading your comments) am I best off getting a converter for the recorder capable of passing an analog signal to the TV set since I do a lot of recording? WIll it be capable of both digital/analog transmitting conversion? I also was getting a digital converter for the TV since I don't have any outside antenna. Picture of all channels great now- HD & analog/pub. I know my DVD rec will not record HD at this point. ANy advice will be welcome- Panasonic said I would need 2 converters- OK, but they had no info oor recommendations on the analog capable. I want to be sure I can run vhs tapes on the DVD after I get the convertors. I will appreciate any advice you can give be because the coupons expire July 7
Thank you, Sally
The catch: Digital Rights Management(DRM).
I have an ATSC tuner and receive off air Digital Television Signals. The picture and sound quality are great. (I do get annoyed though when the sound is not quite in sync with the picture.)
There is a catch and it’s called Digital Rights Management (DRM).
Last night I tried to record a new episode of LOST, a network news program and an episode of This Old House. In all cases my DVD recorder refused. All these programs were content protected.
Since this is all new and I don’t know if this issue will remain after standard television signals are gone so I ask "Will the house wives of America no longer be able to record there Soaps?" I have read that so called time-shifting, or recording a show for later viewing, is an issue that had already gone through the courts and is legal.
There go the good old days.
Doug Warnock