DTV Transition | Digital TV Transition
In the United States all full power television broadcasters will be required to cut off their analog tv broadcast signals on February 17, 2009. From that date on, broadcast television from full power broadcasters will be in digital only. The law has been updated though and the digital television conversion will not complete until June 12th of 2009.
The new digital broadcasting offers some improvements over Analog.
First, it’s possible to transmit several different video streams within the bandwidth that a single old analog tv stream occupied. This gives broadcasters the opportunity to subdivide their channel up into subchannels. I’ve seen as many as 5 sub channels from a single broadcaster.
Additionally, broadcasters can transmit programming information for program guides, much the way digital cable or satellite users have onscreen guides to display what channel they are watching and what is currently showing.
Another potential benefit is multiple audio streams so that programming can be broadcast in English as well as spanish for instance. To a certain extent some of this feature is already available in analog broadcasting with SAP (Secondary Audio Program).
Of course for many the biggest improvement of Digital TV or DTV is the improved picture quality. Areas that saw snow or poor signal will be able to get a crystal clear picture. Our area used to see all sorts of ghosting and snow on even the closest channels with a good antenna. We are in the mountains. With digital we will for the first time be able to get a clear picture from our local broadcaster. Unfortunately our area requires a bit better antenna than most due to the mountainous terrain.
For most people in urban and suburban areas with good “line of sight” to the broadcast towers you will see a great improvement from the switch to digital television.
It’s worth noting that HDTV (High Definition Television) is NOT the same as Digital Television. Digital Television is just a means of getting the picture to the viewers, High Definition Television refers to the quality of the picture. Many Digital Broadcasters are moving to what is called Standard Definition and offering a simultaneous High Definition feed. Digital broadcasting is required to have High Definition.
The Federal Government in the United States has setup a page with information about the DTV Transition | Digital TV Transition.
See below for the latest news on the DTV Transition.
digital tv transition – Google News
Irish and UK governments arrive at consensus for digital TV switch – MediaMughals
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Irish and UK governments arrive at consensus for digital TV switch
MediaMughals The Government of Ireland and the UK have reached upon a deal for facilitating smooth transition of the digital TV switchover in the state of Northern … |
Gloucestershire households given digital TV warning – Cable.co.uk
 Cable.co.uk |
Gloucestershire households given digital TV warning
Cable.co.uk Earlier this week, the governments of both the UK and Ireland agreed to work together to ensure that "a smooth transition" to digital TV services takes … |
Some fixes for cable TV’s poor reputation – OCRegister (blog)
 OCRegister (blog) |
Some fixes for cable TV's poor reputation
OCRegister (blog) Instead, both are gaining digital TV customers, who are likely to pay more per month and use less bandwidth. So, while 68 percent of cable TV users say … |
Comcast Shares Stuck in Purgatory – TheStreet.com
 Converge Network Digest |
Comcast Shares Stuck in Purgatory
TheStreet.com Digital TV subs surprised to the upside at 410000, a good sign that Comcast is still pushing its transition to an all-digital network that ultimately … Comcast Q4 2009 Earnings Call Transcript |
Irish and UK governments agree digital TV deal – Cable.co.uk
 Insideireland.ie |
Irish and UK governments agree digital TV deal
Cable.co.uk Politicians in the UK and Ireland have agreed to work together to ensure the public enjoy "a smooth transition" to digital TV services. … RTÃ and TG4 set for NI digital TV Irish Broadcasting 'To Be Protected' |
WZZM TV-13 boosts transmission, helping antenna problems – The Grand Rapids Press – MLive.com
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WZZM TV-13 boosts transmission, helping antenna problems
The Grand Rapids Press – MLive.com Directions: Re-scan your channels on your DTV converter box or digital TV after 3 am Wednesday morning. During the process, point your antenna toward Grant, … |
Cable, wireless industry propose another DTV transition, broadcasters object – BetaNews
 BetaNews |
Cable, wireless industry propose another DTV transition, broadcasters object
BetaNews Specifically, the two groups suggested that DTV broadcasters don't really need all the spectrum they were given during the transition process, which finally … |
Park County decision leaves TV signals in transition – Billings Gazette
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Park County decision leaves TV signals in transition
Billings Gazette Complicated by changes in federal licensing policies, the switch to digital TV and even the timing of baseball's World Series, the problem got worse this … |
FCC bans wireless microphones from parts of the spectrum – GCN.com
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FCC bans wireless microphones from parts of the spectrum
GCN.com âIn this Report and Order, we establish a firm deadline of June 12, 2010 (one year from the end of the DTV transition) for wireless microphones and other … |
FCC Broadband Update & Net Neutrality Fight – Light Reading
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FCC Broadband Update & Net Neutrality Fight
Light Reading But critics, including the cable industry, claim that the use of such devices can cause interference and knock out digital TV services. … |
dtv transition – Google News
FCC clears 700 MHz spectrum for public safety, commercial use – Lexology (registration)
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FCC clears 700 MHz spectrum for public safety, commercial use
Lexology (registration) … the band will have an opportunity to relocate to other bands, but must clear the 700MHz band by June 12, 2010, one year after the DTV transition ended. … |
LeSEA, Liberman call Denver TV deal a win-win – Radio Business Report
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LeSEA, Liberman call Denver TV deal a win-win
Radio Business Report It says it will use the cash from the station sale to pay down debt associated with the DTV transition. Peter Sumrall, Pres. of LeSEA Broadcasting said … |
Obama Budget Cuts Moon Program, Boosts R&D – PC Magazine
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Obama Budget Cuts Moon Program, Boosts R&D
PC Magazine … to support the DTV transition, a redundant tech prep program, and a technology development program intended to provide small businesses with capital. … |
Time Warner Cable, Inc. Q4 2009 Earnings Call Transcript – Seeking Alpha (blog)
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Time Warner Cable, Inc. Q4 2009 Earnings Call Transcript
Seeking Alpha (blog) That is more than the 104000 we lost in 2008 despite the benefits of the DTV transition. However, we continue to grow our digital video and DVR subscriber … |
Cable, wireless industry propose another DTV transition, broadcasters object – BetaNews
BetaNews |
Cable, wireless industry propose another DTV transition, broadcasters object
BetaNews Specifically, the two groups suggested that DTV broadcasters don't really need all the spectrum they were given during the transition process, which finally … Broadcast organizations comment on NBP Broadcasters Nix Low-Power DTS Proposal |
With FCC order, many wireless microphones are on an endangered species list – Broadcast Engineering
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With FCC order, many wireless microphones are on an endangered species list
Broadcast Engineering âIn anticipation of the post-DTV transition UHF landscape, Shure has been moving its product lines away from the 700MHz band for the better part of a decade … |
Grass Valley supports DTV transition in Latvia – Broadcast Engineering
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Grass Valley supports DTV transition in Latvia
Broadcast Engineering … the transition period; an XMS network management system, which provides network administration and is configured to support redundancy operations. … |
Time for churches to “come to Jesus” on illegal wireless mics – Ars Technica
 Ars Technica |
Time for churches to "come to Jesus" on illegal wireless mics
Ars Technica This might not sound like a big dealâit happens every week and seems to be hurting no oneâand it wasn't until the DTV transition came along. … |
FCC bans wireless microphones from parts of the spectrum – GCN.com
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FCC bans wireless microphones from parts of the spectrum
GCN.com âIn this Report and Order, we establish a firm deadline of June 12, 2010 (one year from the end of the DTV transition) for wireless microphones and other … |
FCC Adopts Order to Clear the 700 MHZ Frequency for Public Safety and Next … – Docuticker (blog)
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FCC Adopts Order to Clear the 700 MHZ Frequency for Public Safety and Next …
Docuticker (blog) This action helps complete an important component of the DTV Transition by clearing the 700 MHz band to enable the rollout of communications services for … FCC shoos away 700 MHz squatters VZW, CTIA Applaud Clearing 700 MHz Shur Moves To Clear 700 MHz Band |
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