The coming revolution in home TV

Pick February 18, 2009 (a Wednesday) as the date tens of thousands of home TV’s will go dead. July 4th is a revolutionary day in USA history. And so will be the 2009 date. And we elected the federal politicians that are making this happen. Don’t blame it on the FCC.

The 1,600 TV stations licensed will still be transmitting on February 18th, 2009, but in the “new” mandated digital format. And to “get” the “new” signal, most Americans will have to buy a new TV with the new tuner, or get another set top box at about $80 a pop, plus hook it all up. This cost is another “hidden” tax to the estimated tune of $600 million to $900 million in today’s dollars. An early hint to the coming revolution about home TV is the nervousness of some politicians, and their more astute staffs. Already federal chits at $40 a pop (maxing out at $80) may be applied for shortly, albeit with all the paperwork and effort. And a fair situation report is that the coming revolution may prompt more postponements and other such political actions. It is still a free play exercise.

The impact is serious. Tens of millions of citizens who have finally made it through the use of VHS players and CD players will be put out again. And we Americans are fickle. We have a cultural history of tolerating auto accidents to the tune of 40,000 (+) deaths a year (to include high school auto deaths though we don’t tolerate child sexual abuse), but we won’t tolerate pet problems from China and Michael Vick. And many think we won’t tolerate losing our present TV as is, which is pretty good.

Call it what your whimsy is. Call it resistance to change. Call it a change for our future. Call it a revolution in our response.