Today’s the day, kiddies. Today’s the day that every broadcasting TV station in America was suppose to switch to digital, but the US Government intervened to save the millions of citizens we hear are not ready. Still, the switch is now optional until June 12, 2009 so a few stations made the transition today. The FCC made a list available that details which stations will switch-off when but at this point you might as well switch on the ol’ antenna TV and flip around yourself. → Read More
Despite the delay to June 12th for the digital TV switch, the line for $40 converter box coupons is miles and miles long. Uncle Sam is apparently printing up 100,000 coupons every day, but the waiting list is currently at 4 million. → Read More
The original DTV shutoff date of February 17, 2009 is almost here and some stations still plan on switching off their analog broadcast as originally planned. Thankfully, the FCC has an extensive list detailing what stations will shutoff next week and the ones that already flipped the switch. → Read More
As soon as Obama signs the DTV Delay Bill into law, the original DTV switch will become optional until June 12, but that isn’t stopping 681 television stations from making the switch. The FCC is stating that those stations make up 40% of the US’s total broadcasters which probably means a lot of markets will experience partial shut-offs. Hopefully this will get fat and lazy Americans (yeah, I said it) off their couches and down to the local electronic emporium to pick up a DTV box – if any are left. → Read More
So, Obama? What’s going on here? The Senate and The House of Representatives both passed the DTV Delay Act that made the analog switch-off optional until June 12, 2009. But Obama hasn’t signed the damn bill yet! What’s he doing? There is nothing more important than American television. Forget the economy, sign this bill into law and lets confuse millions of American’s when some analog signals stay lit on February 17. → Read More
The companies that manufacturer the DTV converter boxes were under the same assumption as all of us that the DTV conversion was to take place on February 17th. Now that it isn’t happening until four months later, the boxes might be hard to find in the short term. → Read More
Now the DTV Delay Act succesfully navigated through the US Capitol, there are some large, looming questions. Primarily, now that the analog switch-off is optional until June 12, what stations will switch off when? And is the Government going to pump more money into the bankrupt DTV vouchers program? → Read More
Folks, the DTV extension bill passed the House of Representatives. The switch to digital has been officially delayed for four months until June 12, 2009. According to a Reuturs report, there are 20 million people would have lost their TV signals if the almighty American government hadn’t stopped the switch. So by June 12th, 2009, there will probably be 19 million procrastinating Americans that will lose their TV signals. Let the confusion begin as this Act gives stations the option to switch off their analog broadcast on February 17 as originally planned. → Read More
Today is the day that the House of Representatives are voting for a second time on the DTV Extension bill. Said bill would give broadcasters the option of shutting off their analog signals either on February 17 or June 12 which the bill proponents say will get millions of Americans enough time to prepare for the switch. (Because the previous two years weren’t enough time) If you recall, the originally bill passed through the Senate with a unanimous vote but failed to earn the 2/3rds vote need in the House. → Read More
The family and I stopped by our grandparents house for a visit yesterday. It was a nice trip and we had a great conversation about the upcoming DTV switch. They seem to get it. → Read More
It’s Take Two on the bill the DTV Transition bill that would postpone the analog switch-off until June 12. The House of Representatives shot down the first one after a unanimous Senate vote, but this this revised bill might make it to Obama’s desk. → Read More
The House of Representatives shot down the bill that would extend the DTV Transition date to June 12. The bill needed two-thirds vote to pass and extend the date by nearly four months. So as it stands now, televisions stations will switch off their analog broadcasts on February 17, 2009 as originally planed and advertised which will potentially leave millions of procrastinators without television. More as we get it but I, for one, hope the bill stays dead. → Read More
The Senate and President Obama are ready to pass legislation that will postpone the DTV Transistion date from Feburary 17th, 2009 to June 12th, 2009 – or so says the Internet. The new bill doesn’t provide more funds for the DTV Coupon program but will allow individual stations to determine when they will switch off their analog signal. So now, instead of having one, uniform date, some stations will make the switch on February 17th and others later in the year. Good or bad? → Read More
The great state of Hawaii is the first in the Nation to make the switch exclusively to digital. The change happened at noon Thursday with the state’s 20 stations broadcasting just a PSA on their analog signals stating, ” All full-power Hawaii TV stations are now digital.” So far the conversion has been made with minimal customer outrage. The FCC did setup phone lines for and they have been lit up which is to be expected. But why did the state switch over before the rest of the country on February 17th? The state bird, that’s why. → Read More
Us American nerds have known for literally years that analog TV signals were eventually going to be shut off. Congress set the date of February 17, 2009 a few years ago and in true government fashion, that date *might* be pushed to June 12 with the digital coupon program to blame. You see, funding ran out for the $40 coupons weeks ago but procrastinating consumers are just now applying causing a backlog of 2.1 million applicants – or so they say. Now Congress wants to push back the date and bailout all these American households that will loss their local news and prime time TV. → Read More
Environmental magazine Plenty got a doozie of a pickle of a question concerning the upcoming switch to digital TV. The gist of the question is: Which would use less energy: an old, analogue tube TV plus a converter, or a brand new digital set? → Read More
Which will be worse, the impending shift to all-digital TV or the impending pole shift that’ll wipe out most, if not all, life on Earth as we know it? Both are coming soon and both are causing people to panic, although the TV one is causing more panic thanks to the nonsensical commercials, non-stop news coverage, and the thought of not being able to watch TV. → Read More
Oh God, yes! Velocitystore.com has released the second video featuring America’s favorite person from one month ago, Joe The Plumber. It’s so great, I’m literally ready for a pap smear. “Joe” unboxes a DTV converter then installs it on a terrible TV. This is more absurd than anything else. Factual, but still absurd. Remember, everyone, apply, buy and try! → Read More
Hey, America, remember Joe the Plumber? He was the unlicensed handyman who John McCain foisted upon us as some sort of tax expert (even though he had back taxes). Well that didn’t exactly work out for him, so the man has a new gig that’s relevant to us here: he’s explaining the digital TV transition to America for some Web site. I mean, yeah, Matt already did that, in some detail, not too long ago, and we’ve been referencing the transition for a while, too, but, somehow, when Joe the Explainer tells us what’s going on, well, then it all makes more sense. Yes, I will be posting these videos as they go up. It will be fun for all of us. via Wonkette → Read More
