Transition to Digital TV
In February of 2009, all television over the air broadcasts of analog signals is expected to cease and be replaced with digital broadcasts. Cable and satellite providers are notifying their users that they will continue to provide analog signals to their subscribers after the analog to digital transition occurs.
What is also clear to me, but not neccesarily to most cable and satellite subscribers, is that analog channels require a lot more bandwidth than the same channel in digital format. In some cases, 10 digital channels can be transmitted in the space where only 1 analog channel lies. Cable and satellite providers are eyeing this as a way to expand the number of digital channels provided without having to expand capacity via additional hardware.
Once February 2009 comes and goes, cable and satellite providers are likely to force subscribers to switch to their more expensive HD packages so that they can get back the bandwidth they now use for transmitting analog channels. This will leave subscribers with no choice other than to buy digital TVs so that can continue watching the favorite shows or cancel cable and satellite service altogether and hope to get government sponsored coupons to purchase digital to analog converters for their analog TVs.
8/4/08 ( 167 )
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