A vote on whether to delay the transition to digital broadcast was put off until Wednesday while the House of Representatives debated the issue, TelevisionWeek reports. Democrats favor the delay beause 6.5 million households aren’t fully prepared for analog broadcasting to shut down. Republicans disagree. “This is a solution looking for a problem,” Rep. Joe Barton of Texas said, according to TVWeek. “We can do nothing worse than delay the date.”
—Jon Lafayette
House DTV Vote Delayed
Jan 28, 2009 • Post A Comment
Perfect. The needs of the few, THE VERY FEW (6.8% at last estimate) outweigh the needs of the many. Because of this vote and it’s resulting cost to stations all over the country, broadcasters will be forced to operate twin broadcasting platforms. My own local market has been budgeted for a transition in Feb. As an on call freelancer, this is money out of my pocket since 2 stations have informed me that my work opportunites will be diminished because of the unexpected budget hit. Frakin Senate/Congress. They say that they want to raise the country out of the recession, then they go ahead and change the rules in the last possiable moment.
And PBS says this delay will cost them 20 million dollars more! I’ve already complained to the White House, to the House of Representatives’ Committe on Energy & Commerce. What about viewers who, to save money, have cancelled cable in expectation of DTV? Why aren’t people concerned about them?
Using one of Clinton’s more oft quoted lines,” ‘ah feel your pain.’ The people who are not ready for the switch on 2/17 will not be ready on 6/12, with few exceptions. This is a completely unnecessary and unwarranted delay.
Vote happened. House failed the motion. The transition date is still February 17. Get ready.
“What about viewers who, to save money, have cancelled cable in expectation of DTV? Why aren’t people concerned about them?”
Because they already have both an antenna and a converter box, and thus will be prepared for the switch whenever it happens.