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When discussing all of these issues, it's important to keep a few things in mind. First of all, digital TV is a relatively new way of transmitting video that takes advantage of computer technology to send a signal that can easily be cleansed of any interference by special receiver hardware, thereby providing a TV picture of incredible clarity. All satellite TV companies already use this format on all of their programming and many cable TV companies use it on most of their programming.
One of the reasons that this whole thing is such a fuss is that analog TV signals take up more of the over the air electromagnetic bandwidth than the equivalent TV programming does in digital format. This fact, combined with the fact that many TV stations are transmitting their content simultaneously in both analog and digital formats, means that there's a lot of electromagnetic bandwidth being wasted on unnecessary TV transmissions. That bandwidth could be used for numerous other things like emergency services communications and wide spread wireless Internet access. That's a large part of the incentive to completely change over to digital TV.
Another major reason to change over to digital TV is that there's a lot of money for consumer electronics makers to rake in when all of the analog signals go off the air because at that point analog TV sets will be obsolete- at least when it comes to beIng used to watch TV directly off of the air. At that point, consumers will either need to buy special converter boxes to make their old TV sets work or buy completely new TV's. Of course, their are plans for the government to subsidize purchase of those converter boxes, but no matter where the money comes from, it still means plenty of profit for the consumer electronics industry.
Now, there are plenty of mixed signals about the coming transition. For example, every TV set now on the market has to have a digital tuner that will allow it to pick up the digital over the air signals. Also a coalition of broadcasters and electronics manufacturers has formed in order to educate the public about the impending transition. But at the same time these positive steps are being taken, some politicians are saying that the transition might have to be pushed back again and some analysts are saying that it will have to be pushed back again. Only time will tell how any of this will play out.
Category: HDTVMore Confusion With Transition To Digital TV Technology was written by:Author:Emily SandersonAdded: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:14:14 -0500 This Article Has Been Read 159 times View all Emily Sanderson's articlesAbout the Author: E.Sanderson writes articles for consumers who want to find the latest technonoly news about Comcast Cable TV. She has written for many major publications about High Speed Internet and how buyers can find the best deals. |
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