Analogue TV Broadcasts Are No More: Senior Citizens Demand "MATLOCK!"
June 12, 2009, a day that will live in very high frequency, is upon us. Analogue (analog?) television signals have been turned off. If you haven't cashed your U.S. government voucher to make the transition to digital reception, you may have missed The View. Even if you were prepared, you'll no longer have June-12-is-coming PSAs to break up the time between commercials for Enzyte and commercials for freecreditreport.com.
Coverage of the Day Everything Changed:
National Association of Broadcasters says 82 percent of America's "at risk" households -- i.e., those that use antennas (antennae?) to watch the tube are "fully prepared for the nationwide switch to digital television (DTV)."
Federal Communications Commission says the transition is going smoothly, claims 1,030 U.S. TV stations had made the analogue-to-digital switch as of midday. UPI says the "ensuing public response to the changeover appears to be positive."
The New York Times says they're panicking in Greensboro! Acting FCC fossil-in-chief Michael Copps says do not panic; stay in your homes; disruptions in service must be expected.
TV Newsday says minorities hardest hit. And though you might have thought analogue shutoff would cause the most violent nursing home rioting since the Lawrence Welk Show was canceled, it turns out the elderly are best prepared for the crisis.
America Jr. planning to make its own little transition in 2011.
Continuing coverage from engadget.
Whether you're a February 17 diehard, a cable refusenik, or the TV equivalent of a vinyl fanatic with theories about how analogue signal gave a "warmer" sound and fatter picture, talk your pain away in the comments.
Or just enjoy Freddy Krueger's immortal tribute to rabbit ears TV. In a strange coincidence (?) YouTube seemed to be out of commission for a while today, but if you just hit your computer or device on the side a couple times the signal will come back:
