Horrible use of the news flash tag.

It was a good move. Anybody that is not ready at this point is not ready because they don't want to be.

This is good news for America.

Obama is on the wrong side of this issue. What an idiot.

Good.

I think someone else had come up with a good idea.

Cut off the analog broadcast, and have it stream just a message saying "If you see this then you must purchase a converter, here are the instructions on how to do this"

Just run that for a week or so, and people will know what to do.

Um. That's not what this article says.

DTV passes house.

Might be a good idea for some people to have their TVs go dark anyways... Maybe they'll go out and get a book. Or exercise. Or just use the computer more.

Since I work in the broadcasting industry, I'm really getting a kick...etc, etc.

/actually, I do work in the industry, and, delaying the date that has been "set in stone" for years now is just rediculous, and unnecessary. It's like tearing off a band-aid, just do it, deal with the pain, and move ON.

I'm shocked the Republicans shut this down. As soon as DTV goes into effect, Fox News' ratings are going to drop by around 33%

The Nielsen Co. estimated that more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals could see their TV sets go dark next month if the transition is not postponed.

And guess what is the most efficient way to get them to change this fact, turning off the analog transmitters.

Pretty much what Jesus said. If I could get off my ass and get one, anybody can.

/got my converter
//all these new channels
///reception is better too.

And then in June delay it til December, then you can't make people switch in December when they need to buy Christmas presents. It would never end.

Now if only they'd have these balls and stop the writing of checks in the grocery store...

I just closed my browser on a Reuters story that said they passed it. Now I go back there and there's a "corrected" story to "to make clear the bill did not pass." I guess there was something unclear about writing "it passed."

priestrape: I'm shocked the Republicans shut this down. As soon as DTV goes into effect, Fox News' ratings are going to drop by around 33%

it's not going to effect Fox News. That's cable. Perhaps you should visit dtvanswers2009.org.

priestrape: I'm shocked the Republicans shut this down. As soon as DTV goes into effect, Fox News' ratings are going to drop by around 33%


Ha!

cltbuilder: Um. That's not what this article says.

DTV passes house.

Now I'm confused. Which one is right.

/Enjoying digital signals to my brain.

Good. If people aren't ready after all this time, it is their own damn problem. Maybe a couple days of no tv before they figure it out will be good for them.

There nothing good on anymore anyways.

cltbuilder: Um. That's not what this article says.

DTV passes house.

Correction (new window)

The defeat is a setback for the Obama administration and Democrats on Capitol Hill, who fear too many Americans are not ready for the switchover.

Fear? What happened to hope? Or change?

Good. That's what you get for putting dumb ideas on suspension.

If they wanted to do this, they should have done it back in November or December and allowed the regular process to go through. Instead they put it on an expidited schedule and didn't think it all the way through.

cltbuilder: Um. That's not what this article says.

DTV passes house.

Now I'm conflicted

This is why the U.S. will never go metric.

Good. I've been using a converter box for months now and it's great, except some of the broadcasters seem to be waffling about how much power to put into the digital transmitters versus analog, and there's inconsistent reception. I'm hoping that with the switch they'll put more into the dtv transmitters.

make me a sammich: cltbuilder: Um. That's not what this article says.

DTV passes house.

Correction (new window)

Thanks.

"I'm shocked the Republicans shut this down. As soon as DTV goes into effect, Fox News' ratings are going to drop by around 33%"

Not real clear on how this affects households with cable or satellite, are you?

priestrape: I'm shocked the Republicans shut this down. As soon as DTV goes into effect, Fox News' ratings are going to drop by around 33%

How do you figure?

I'm so glad that the senate voted to extend the DTV conversion, this will give ne another few months to completely forget about it.

Then in June I can be like WTF?!?! Why didn't someone tell me about this?

When is the changeover date for analog books? Is it still 2012?

I'd like them to quit the Burger King and Geico Cavemen ads as well. Those farking suck.

Thank goodness for channel blocker I was hoping I would never have to see that Obama channel on my dish again.

As soon as I found it I blocked it.

/was stupid
// dont know if its still out there

Going to have to side with the Repubs on this one...makes me feel icky.

yay, i can't wait until I don't have to watch those on my HD TV channels.

Good. I don't want the launch of my pirate tv station pushed back four months...although it would give me that much more time to find more Wally George episodes.

Those commercials are so irritating. I get it. If anyone else does not get it by now then they deserve to sit there in front of their white noise tv scratching their head.

If you didn't know about the transition I'd love to know what rock you've been living under. There are even billboards about it here in Los Angeles, on bus benches too. So the "I don't watch much TV" is a lame excuse.

Lets just get it over with already.

Drakin020: Just run that for a week or so, and people will know what to do.

That's what they did in the test markets, and it worked great.

This is what happens when advertisers throw money at Washington to ensure their ads get seen by as many people as possible, regardless of how it hurts communities.

Communities like mine, for example, where our NBC affiliate is on ridiculously low power because they're VHF (and digital) only. They can't crank up their power until the analog channel 9 in Orlando switches off.

lorax101: Might be a good idea for some people to have their TVs go dark anyways... Maybe they'll go out and get a book. Or exercise. Or just use the computer more.

No, they'll just bombard the local electronics stores with idiotic questions about why the teevee doesn't work anymore. Then they'll say they bought the tv at the store fifteen years ago (before the store existed) and that they've been a loyal customer (Haven't stepped into the store more than 5 times) and that unless the manager gives them a brand new plasma screen the store will be losing their, and their friends' business permanently (their friends don't shop there either)

Or they'll sue. I don't know who, but someone is going to get sued.

When are they finally going to put the internet on computers?

Minus1Kelvin: Going to have to side with the Repubs on this one...makes me feel icky.


I don't think the GOP has 2/3 of the votes. So I'm guessing a lot of Dems voted the same way...

DrFaustus: it's not going to effect Fox News. That's cable. Perhaps you should visit dtvanswers2009.org.

crap...you got me on that one

Obama wants to delay Change?

Possibly another shining example of our government being a complete and utter bucket of shiat.

This initiative has all ready been postponed for 2 years. Two more months will not help. If the government is that inept that they couldn't properly plan for this then TFB. If people aren't ready then TFB. We're talking about tv for pete's sake. This isn't life support, its T farking V.

Proceed as planned. Suck it up.

the reason they are converting these is because the military will take over the "airwaves" that we have been used to using.
i am looking for an older tv with the dials, you know the uhf frequencies, etc.
that way i can watch the NWO from behind the scenes.

also don't worry about responding to this with a cute little comeback or something, it will just inflame me into a flame war.

and i have all day.

i know you think i am talking conspiracy theory but it is true, check it out for yourself with the google machine.

also, well that's it i guess.

This is where I make my smug commemt that I don't watch tv.

And, just for two more reasons moving this is dumb:

1. Nielsen already printed special diaries for March, even though they usually do sweeps in November to make an allowance for the transition.

2. By moving the date, the Obama administration takes ownership of this program, whereas, by leaving it as is, if it succeeds, they can take credit, and if it fails, they can just blame Bush. Win-Win.

/this makes NO sense

I dont see how delaying the cutover is going to help. People have had something like 5 years to get ready for this, delaying it another 6 months with the notion that all the procrastinators will do something about it is dumb. Anyone who hasnt already taken care of this probably doesnt care about watching tv.

FTA:The defeat is a setback for the Obama administration and Democrats on Capitol Hill, who fear too many Americans are not ready for the switchover.

If we delayed technology until all Americans were "ready for it" we would still be surfing AOL using Netscape Navigator on our 28.8k modems.

Its not like we are forcing people to watch HDTV or anything remotely glamorous. This is the TV equivalent of no longer accepting payment for goods with gold doubloons.

priestrape: I'm shocked the Republicans shut this down. As soon as DTV goes into effect, Fox News' ratings are going to drop by around 33%

Actually, I think it means we get to watch those annoying commercials for another 6 months.

DonnyBaker: priestrape: I'm shocked the Republicans shut this down. As soon as DTV goes into effect, Fox News' ratings are going to drop by around 33%

replace "Fox News" with "Matlock reruns"

From the Reuter's article: The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday failed to pass a bill to delay the nationwide switch to digital television signals by about four months.

Failed? They didn't fail to do anything. They decided that not passing the bill was the best thing to do.

Looks to me like a Reuter's fail.