This DTV switchover has been seriously screwed up...

[JeffreyWilliamson]

I'm watching our local CBS affiliate, and the local newscaster just warned that they are about to start a test that will let anyone who is not ready for the DTV switch will get a screen with an 800 number to call for instructions on how to get ready. No sooner were the words out of his mouth than that very message started running on my screen.

I have satellite television!

[Skink]

1. Y2K.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

2. Ah, the beloved Y2K...

I wonder how many people with DirecTV in the Houston area just got that and are franticly calling to find out how to upgrade for a service that THEY ALREADY HAVE.

[Jkid]

13. self-delete n/t

[NYC_SKP]

3. Where can I get the special box I'll need for my Comcast service???

:hide:

.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

4. Give me a second...

I'll go write down the phone number being broadcast over my DIGITAL satellite converter and bring it back so you can call.

[tammywammy]

5. LOL! n/t

[mentalsolstice]

6. Perhaps you're getting that local channel OTA?

Although we're sat subscribers, at times we've received our local channels through a roof-top antenna. You need to check with your provider and make sure you're good to go.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

7. Nope, all satellite...

I built a UHF antenna for HD over the air signals. That actually WORKS when they run the tests...

[merwin]

8. Unless their broadcasting your station over DirectTV in HD, then it's probably just taking the

analog feed and running it to the satellite. Nothing to worry about, but poor planning on their part.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

9. That's what I figured they were doing...

It is definitely very, very poor planning on their part. I haven't seem them have that problem with any of the other affiliates. I just happened to be on this channel when it happened.

[Captain Hilts]

10. Even with a DTV antenna, the signal I get is too weak to tune the DTV descrambler. nt

[Ms. Toad]

19. Me too,

But I've been told to stop my whining.

[Historic NY]

11. this helps explain

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/the-february-2009-digital-conversion-made-simple/149129315

[JeffreyWilliamson]

12. I would have seriously hoped...

That DirecTV would have been broadcasting the digital feed of this local affiliate so that when the originally planned switchover happened in a few days their subscribers wouldn't have awoken to find blacked out channels...

[Jkid]

14. Clearer picture, same shit.

Programs will still be broadcast 4x3. Local news will be still focused on crime and scandal. and your usual crime/medical drama with a dash of UNreality tv.

Another problem is that most of the subchannel offerings are a joke. "This TV"? Weather radars? A bunch of PBS how-to shows many people don't watch?

Probably the reason people are not switching over to digital is that they realize that it will change nothing and will not really provide new.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

15. Abomination!

HOW WILL PEOPLE REALIZE HOW MUCH THEY NEED 13 WEATHER CHANNELS UNTIL THEY DON'T HAVE THEM! i'M sERIES!!!11!1

My favorite part about setting up the tv to get the HD signal off air was having to weed out and block 47 religious channels. All digital.

[Jkid]

16. 47 religious channels?

I bet they're hording all the subchannel space...

Then again, the FCC should ban those religious channels from the public airwaves, like Britain does. They already got cable and most of them are conservative evangelical christian networks.

[Thothmes]

17. First Amendment, Britain does not have one. We do.

[surrealAmerican]

18. Britain has a state religion.