Maybe Digital TV Is A Good Idea Afterall

I must admit that I have been a skeptic about digital television. From the beginning, this looked like a bandwidth grab by the telcom industry, engineered by the FCC, and insuring that the rich got richer. Between the reallocation of broadcast frequencies and the making obsolete millions of televisons, it was hard to see how this was in the interest of the American people.

I have to admit, I am beginning to come around. It is easy to acknowledge that the quality of digital broadcasts in high definition is pretty amazing. I find myself watching things on TV that I would have never considered before. Still, as great as this is, the price point for having a high definition TV is still really steep. Lots of American viewers may never get much from this aspect of broadcasting going digital.

Two other things really have changed my mind.

The willingness of the federal government to underwrite the cost of providing two digital converters to every home that requests them means that you don’t have to abandon your television set if you are not ready. I admit that this will be complicated for some folks and there is sure to be an outcry next February 17 when millions of viewers who have not kept track of impending changes in broadcasting will be surprised to discover that there televisions no longer work. Its hard to predict how this may shake out. Those who understand and implement these converter boxes will receive lots more programming options than they have now.

My real willingness to embrace this change is the unbelievable increase in the amount of available content when you receive your broadcast televion digitally.

We live in a broadcast-rich area of the country, and by simply using a set of rabbit ears in my family room I am able to receive over 30 digital broadcasts.

Of particular interest is the wealth of programming now delivered by our local PBS affiliate, WUNC. Rather than just receiving a single broadcast channel, we now receive five different program streams from the same source. It is great to be able to get regular PBS programming, high definition programming, kids shows, archived tv programs and more. I still have satellite tv programming, but spend more and more time watching free digital broadcasts.

Every local channel now broadcasts in digital, providing multiple programs including always available weather, news and special programming in addition to their regular shows.

Reluctantly, I have to admit that this is a change for the better.

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