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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One of the unexpected benefits of running a web based business is the ability to find out a lot about your customers in a hurry. Most of our customers have web sites and we always take a look at how they present their businesses on the web as part of processing their orders.

A large number of our customers are entertainment production and audiovisual presentation companies. I rarely see anything of real interest at these sites and I remain surprised that industries with such a high level of technical knowledge miss the opportunity to put their best foot forward.

These sites are usually “black box” pictures-pictures of the equipment the company owns– and lists of technical specifications that may impress their competition but rarely mean anything to a potential customer.

That brings me to the point of this posting. When we were in the “hands on” sound and lighting business one of our good friends and competitors was Carey Sound in Greensboro, NC. I have been friends with the company owner, Ken Carey, for over 25 years and he generously sub-contracted shows to us more than once. I guess the term “competitor” doesn’t really fit here.

The web site he has put together for his company is breathtaking in its depth and quality. Any production company seeking to create a real presence on the web would be hard pressed to put together anything better than what Ken has created.

The type of information he so carefully presents is a lesson in how to use the web to gain new customers and hang onto the ones you already have. His “how to” videos are great information and a powerful sales tool. No doubt, they have deflected lots of last minute panic calls from his rental customers.

Ken’s extensive News section is well laid out and makes for lots of good reading if you are in the sound business.

Carey’s Rental section answers lots of the questions that a potential rental customer might have in a good humored and honest manner that lets the renter know exactly what to expect.

The photography is beautiful (lots of smiling faces), the layout is logical and easy to navigate, and details regarding the services and equipment Carey offers are presented with the clients point of view considered on every page.

I’ve spent a well over an hour browsing this site in the last week, and still have not seen it all.

If you are ready to move your company’s web presence into the big leagues, don’t miss this site.

p.s. Congrats to Carey Sound on their new building and their 30 year anniversary.

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Shurtape gaffers tape, Duracell Procell batteries, MagLite flashlights, Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Electratrac and Coast Wire extension cords , OnStage Stand mic stands and “value added” customer service.