[NCLUG] MythTV Questions

[Brian Wood]

Alan Silverstein wrote:
> Chad et al,
> 
>> Actually, I wasn't aware of that -- and I'm as annoyed about that
>> waste of my tax money as I am about the rest of this circus with HDTV
>> regulations.
> 
> Eh?  Regardless of the politics of selling off airwaves, I think this
> one is not about tax money...  The coupons for conversion boxes ($1.5M
> total I think I heard) are probably paid for out of the income the bands
> will generate.

Much as I hate to defend a government program, doing it the way they 
have is probably not a too terrible solution, given that the switch is 
happening (not that I agree with that).

The certificates can only be used to purchase D-to-A converters, nothing 
else, so folks are unlikely to apply for one (or two) unless they 
actually plan to use them in the intended way.

Of course the manufacturers are hoping people will just go out and buy 
HD sets. I tried asking a Circuit City "expert" about the certificates 
and of course they knew nothing about them (or at least claimed not to).

I think it's more or less like the "lifeline" basic telephone service 
intended for people on limited incomes - not used by many folks, 
probably because it is not promoted at all.

The real beneficiaries are outfits like Sony, who not only get to sell 
TV sets to millions of folks but also get to sell HD equipment to a lot 
of broadcasters. They knew from their experience in Japan that people 
will not rush out and by this stuff without "incentive", so they lobbied 
Congress to provide it.

TV could have easily moved from the VHF to the UHF portion of the 
spectrum without converting to digital, and all sets sold for many 
decades can tune UHF.

The cost is not intolerable for TV stations in large markets, but it is 
a significant burden for small market stations, which will have to be 
passed along as increased advertising costs, which will be passed along 
as...

beww