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Digital deadline
Television as you've always known it is about to be history. Just weeks ago, President Bush signed into law a piece of legislation that will require all television broadcasts in the United States to use digital signals, rather than the old analog VHF/UHF signals we've received on our tubes for the last few decades -- and make the change by Feb. 17, 2009.
The digital deadline gives broadcasters and service providers three good years to prepare for the changeover. Considering that most metropolitan areas across America already get digital television service of one form or another, that ought to be more than enough time.
Digital TV doesn't necessarily mean HDTV, but it's hard to imagine HD failing to establish itself as the leading broadcast standard within the next few years. Walk into a Best Buy or Circuit City store today, and you'll find HDTV sets dominating the sales floor. As the deadline for digital draws near, old analog boxes will vanish from store shelves entirely, making high-def TVs almost the only choice available.
"At some point, the analog waves are going to get shut off, so the government mandate will definitely matter to the consumer," says John Revie, vice president of visual displays for Samsung. "But in the meantime, the consumer with the digital set is getting a better picture and service. And prices are coming down. So you're getting more value for less money. Couple that with high-definition pipes (whether it's satellite or cable) and Blu-Ray and HD-DVD platforms coming into the home, it's offering a terrific value."
Digital deadline
Television as you've always known it is about to be history. Just weeks ago, President Bush signed into law a piece of legislation that will require all television broadcasts in the United States to use digital signals, rather than the old analog VHF/UHF signals we've received on our tubes for the last few decades -- and make the change by Feb. 17, 2009.
The digital deadline gives broadcasters and service providers three good years to prepare for the changeover. Considering that most metropolitan areas across America already get digital television service of one form or another, that ought to be more than enough time.
Digital TV doesn't necessarily mean HDTV, but it's hard to imagine HD failing to establish itself as the leading broadcast standard within the next few years. Walk into a Best Buy or Circuit City store today, and you'll find HDTV sets dominating the sales floor. As the deadline for digital draws near, old analog boxes will vanish from store shelves entirely, making high-def TVs almost the only choice available.
"At some point, the analog waves are going to get shut off, so the government mandate will definitely matter to the consumer," says John Revie, vice president of visual displays for Samsung. "But in the meantime, the consumer with the digital set is getting a better picture and service. And prices are coming down. So you're getting more value for less money. Couple that with high-definition pipes (whether it's satellite or cable) and Blu-Ray and HD-DVD platforms coming into the home, it's offering a terrific value."
