Digital TV switchover to be delayed; you may still have time
If you’re an avid BGR reader, you’re probably all set to go for the switch to digital TV but if you’ve been slacking for whatever reason, there could be some good news for you. After a lot of bickering, the US Senate has just passed a bill to extend the switch from February 17 to June 12. Even though there was plenty of warning, lots of folks felt that February was just too soon and so the proposal for a delay is one step closer to being passed. Of course the bill still must make it through the House and the desk of the the President. For those who received a $40 coupon (to aid in the purchase of a digital converter box) that expired or is soon to expire, a new coupon can be requested should the bill pass. Seriously though, with the June 12 deadline and tax refunds on their way… Well, you know what we’re getting at. Now that the ultimate relief may soon be given to the nation’s biggest procrastinators, it’s time to get on the digital bandwagon folks.
I think everyone defending this delay is forgetting something: these people who either cannot afford a converter box or don’t understand the conversion altogether will not be in any better position in June than they are right now in January. As has been stated several times, the conversion to digital has been in the works for a VERY long time and has been delayed far too many times, all for the purpose of giving people time to prepare. If they still are not prepared at this point, I can guarantee that they will not be any more prepared 5 months from now. It’s not that I lack compassion for those who do not have access to a digital converter box or those who simply don’t understand what is going on, I just don’t think that delaying something that should have taken place several years ago is pointless, since it is very unlikely that those people will be prepared even in June (or December, for that matter).
In addition, those defending the delay need to realize that with any change in technology, especially change effecting the number of people that this will, there will ALWAYS be people who are left out simply because of technological issues. That is just the way things work in a world as reliant on technology as this one. Eventually, those people who are left out will catch up. It’s an endless cycle. It’s just impossible for every last person to be included.
honestly .. if you can’t get the box .. you don’t need TV .. if you don’t understand english .. go home
This will do nothing but allow procrastinators to procrastinate yet even longer, they’ll just think “Yes! What a releif, I don’t have to worry about it until june now!” Then june will come and it will be the same issue all over again, people boo hooing that they haven’t gotten their box yet and blah blah blah. They should just leave it at 2/17/09, it has been set for years now, and heavily advertised for at least a year, if people don’t have their box by now then it’s their own fault.
^ I agree with your first comment that if a person can’t afford a box, than TV is not important enough to justify anyway. Humans have survived many, many, MANY years without it and we could do it now if need be. Hell, millions of people live entire lives without ever even seeing a TV.
I do not, however agree with your second comment. While I understand that it was a joke and I am not personally offended by it, it is not always a person’s choice whether or not to be here so the inability to understand English may not be something they can control or immediately fix. Please don’t think I’m trying to get on you about this, I just don’t feel like reading 300 posts from people offended by this comment.
Agreed. I think it’s about time people start taking responsibility for their actions (or inactions in this case). While there are many people that simply have no way of obtaining a digital converter box, I am willing to bet a large sum of money that the majority of people who have yet to purchase their converter boxes have the means to do so, but are unwilling to go out and get them. We make far too many excuses for people in this world and to that I have this to say: we are adults (I’m only 20, but still) and it is time to start acting like adults. The times of someone else cleaning up our mistakes are gone and it’s about time we take responsibility.
@ backbeat…everyone has known about this forever, if they don’t have the money now they won’t have it later. get off your butt and get a job. anyone that has a job working at mcdonalds should be able to afford this, and if they can’t, they shouldn’t be watching tv anyways, they should be out trying to make more money….give it a rest you idiot!
I swore I was not going to comment on this story…but after reading some of the comments from the bleeding heart liberals on here I feel it my duty to go off. Whoever controls the information controls the people…sound familiar?!? How do you contol the information?-by controling the media in which it is delivered..the government is so scared that people will be without tv(and thus their brainwashing) for a second and those folks will actually develop the ability to think for themselves, and rub their eyes and look around and see what the hell is really going on. Do you actually believe that what you are watching on the news or programming is true or real or important? Fake reality shows, sensational celebrity stories, scandals, and throw in just a bit of true stuff like weather and traffic…and you got good programming right?!? Please! True-people use the tube as escapism, but the government is capatalizing on that and using it to push their agenda. Wake up America…are we in a recession? That’s what the tv tells you isn’t it? But I go to the malls on the weekends and the places are packed-driving around looking for a parking space, I go out to lunch during the week to big name national sit-down restaurants-every seat is filled, I drive up and down the interstate and see lots of transfer trucks rolling right along with me…folks-they don’t drive those trucks unless they have something in them…or they are going to pick something up in them…would we really be seeing all of these actions if we were in a true recession? Yes people are being laid off, yes people are out of work…I believe that it is a knee-jerk reaction from the major companies, who are scared and are buying into the hype. Gas prices went up…blame Bush. Obama gets elected…gas prices creeping back down…the media spin is obvious, Bush bad, Obama good. You forget that our companies here locally are the ones setting the prices…sure the price of a barrel of oil may go up…but the home folks here are marking it up too…don’t just get mad at overseas oil gougers…look out your backdoor folks…and while you’re at it-looking out your backdoor that is-why don’t you peer over your shoulder…you know who that is? It’s China-you know, the sleeping superpower…the ones who the US is heavily in debt to…the ones the US gets everything made by? Wake up America…ask yourself, really-why does the government care so much that someone might loose thier tv signal?!? Turn the tv off for a couple of days and clear the cobwebs out-rub your eyes and look around for a bit…and seriously don’t think that surfing the web is any better-now don’t get me started on all that. I know that I have probably upset some folks-so let me have it..this will be my only post on this topic, I will not respond to any responses-but know that I will be reading them all. Wake up America.
The funny part of this is that broadcasters can still choose to switchover on Feb. 17th regardless of if the ‘official’ switchover is extended.
Considering the fact that many of these broadcasters will lose millions of dollars by keeping the analog signal running beyond Feb. 17th, it is likely the switchover will occur whether the government likes it or not.
common people all of you people need a further eduacation in life…as many years we all have been programmed …first it was the black and whie tv…wich people were used to and i can still recall that people were still usuing black and white tv 20 years after the change…was it cause they couldnt afford it …wrong…it was cause we all got used to the fact we were all programmmed with it…..there were candles before edison made the tungsten people…..and lots of people still have no lights today…are they poor people or people on welfare or lazy asses ..common now use your f…..n heads here….someitmes 2 years isint enough for people to understand and even wanna change afre sucj a long hall with anolog..tv…get real…..damm country is falling apart and its not cause of advancing tech…it failing cause people do not stick up for eachother they would rather demolish the little man here,,,get a life
as I have found out as thousands of others will be finding out is that thease converter boxs won’t work anyway, and I have done alot of reasearh. People will have no choice but to go to cable or satalite. Little by little peoples freedoms re being taken away from them in this country! and I hope people start waking up before its to late.