Mark -In the U.S. the turn to digital has meant (so far) a high definition primary channel and one or two secondary digital channels which are standard definition. For the most part, the additional channels have been shopping channels or networks retreading old, mostly forgotten television programs. One problem that exists here with digital that probably is less of a problem if one at all in the UK, is service to areas outside the cities and immediate suburbs. For that reason, the majority of viewers get their television via cable (about 60% give or take) or satellite (about 30%), leaving only 10% receiving their tv terrestrially over the air. Because cable and satellite companies are not required to carry anything other than the primary broadcast channel, there isn't much incentive for the broadcasters to invest significant effort in their secondary channels. The complaint of the 10% will be less reliability as digital is much less forgiving of interference and other factors than analog. If your in the hinterlands, snowy pictures are better than no picture at all.
There are actually two digital transitions taking place here--the broadcast one mandated by the government that goes into final effect on the 12th and one being implemented by cable television providers voluntarily (although clearly dictated by business considerations) to increase efficiency in spectrum usage and offer more and more high definition services which are clearly in demand and for which the public has demonstrated it will pay a premium. The complaint with this transition comes from subscribers who up to now have been able to just plug the cable into the back of their sets and watch analog television without need for a converter. The switch to digital renders their older, perfectly well functioning analog televisions unable to display digital television without the rental of a converter at roughly $8 a set per month. Many people have two, three, even four or five sets in their homes. Outfitting those sets could cost them significantly more dollars a month than they're paying now.
While cable television systems here offer specialized digital music packages, neither broadcast nor cable nor satellite television uses their spectrum to deliver radio services.
John Figliozzi On Jun 10, 2009, at 2:55 PM, Mark Hawkins wrote:
Interesting that the US view of digital TV is disappointment.In the UK digital terrestrial television is standard definition, not high definition but it offers extensive text services and some degree of interactivity. It obviously doesn't compare well to the Internet as an information source in terms of breadth but it would meet most of the promises in that article.It also includes some 10's of radio channels (including World Service - a nod towards the topic here !)Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought North America had used digital TV to introduce High(er) Definition TV so there was less capacity for additional services.The UK is perhaps a quarter of the way through a phased digital switch over and there seems to be surprisingly little complaint here.Mark Hawkins On 10 Jun 2009, at 15:04, Richard Cuff wrote:On the eve of the eve of the digital cutover... Seehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/09/ AR2009060903144.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletteror http://snipurl.com/ju2o6 Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA _______________________________________________ Swprograms mailing list Swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/swprogramsTo unsubscribe: Send an E-mail to swprograms-request@hard-core- dx.com?subject=unsubscribe, or visit the URL shown above.Mark Hawkins hawkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _______________________________________________ Swprograms mailing list Swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/swprogramsTo unsubscribe: Send an E-mail to swprograms-request@hard-core- dx.com?subject=unsubscribe, or visit the URL shown above.
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