Comments on: A modest proposal for a smoother digital TV switchover

An early test of the analog TV shutoff revealed that a lot of people didn't get the message. Here's a plan to help correct that.

[davezatz]

No matter how proactive we are, I think there's going to be a lot of angry and confused people in February. They'll call the local TV stations and city hall. It'll be a financial burden on the little guys who won't be getting a piece of the spectrum proceeds.

[Mr. Bloggerific Himself]

Part of the problem in this area (Western Kentucky and Southern Indiana) the information is repeated constantly (yes, over the air) but it comes to us in more of a commercial...you know, those things people ignore? "Are you ready for the big switch?!" And... it's time to go for more BBQ until the show comes back on. (What, didn't you expect a Kentuckian to go for BBQ during a commercial?) It IS in heavy rotation and screen crawls are ignored too. Why not something more along the lines of the old THIS IS A TEST OF THE EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM alerts? The alert sound, the impossible to miss graphic, etc. ?

[GlennAllen]

#2. The rotation is already pretty heavy from what I've seen.
#3. I like the scroll idea. After all, why not use the emergency (EBS/EAS) features of the medium to announce a possible "emergency" that could affect viewers?

From the reports I've read (elsewhere) the "problems" in Wilmington were due primarily to people not being able to setup the converter boxes they already had (though they might have had them ready by Feb2009). Only a handful of viewers weren't aware of the impending change-over.

[rbz275]

I also like the idea of keeping the analog broadcasting, but have it broadcast a message explaining to tv-watchers what to do

[arthurone]

Sorry to say, this article falls way below CNET's usual high standards. Ironic since you've just been bought by a broadcast company.

First off, the Wilmington test was largely a huge success. There were hundreds, not thousands of calls from people who had incorrectly installed their converter box, etc, and most of these problems were quickly fixed.

Secondly, every single thing proposed in this article has already happened or is scheduled to happen, including the lower third snipes and screen crawls. The PSA schedule -- mandated by the FCC -- has been quite heavy and will continue that way right through the November elections even though political spots compete for air time. After that, the messages will increase yet again.

The challenge here is not supplying more information but overcoming human nature -- the 2 or 3 percent of viewers who just don't listen. For those viewers, physical intervention plans are already underway, many with volunteer converter installers and some even drawing on municipal workers -- even the fire department!

Local stations and station groups could not possibly be more motivated. Each of them knows that even a handful of clueless viewers complaining to their congressman creates a lasting headache.

Much more on this topic can be found by searching tvnewsday.com.

[mystmass]

I have basic cable and a Digital TV so I will be ok. But I live 40 miles from
Boston I am not able to pick up the Boston stations this far out.
I bought a powered indoor antenna so that I could see a better HD picture then
the cable supply's But all I get is one of the stations with a very poor picture.
Good luck to anyone has no cable .

[bus7821]

As others have noted, the entire premise of this article is false. There was almost no one who "didn't get the word." The only ignorance that was at all widespread was the apparent notion some people had that they had to wait until the cutover to begin using their converter boxes and digital tuners. Combine this with procrastination, and you had lots of people discovering at the same time that their equipment wasn't hooked up properly.

[jbaviera]

How about NOT going digital at all! After the hurricane winds from Ike, Thousands of households here in central Ohio were without power. Can you imagine being in ANY location where you have to rely. Lots of people using portable TVs to watch the local "Over-The-Air' stations (that might happen to be on). I have as yet to see a portable digital tv on ANY shelf at ANY store.

Good luck during the first disaster after the switch!