11th June 2010, 9:42 PM
Dark Jaguar Wrote:Anyway, my point is not that it'll be a seamless transition, but people with cable were NEVER the issue when the digital transition came along. Do you honestly think the vast majority of TV watches, the ones that DON'T have cable, cared about cable viewers? No, they all had to upgrade. Cable isn't nearly as ubiquitous as TV owning is. That's part of the reason they felt the need to change the spectrum anyway. In fact, a large number of people are seeing no reason to keep paying for cable and are starting to ditch it here and there.
As of 2006, 88% of all American households had cable and/or satellite service. I have had both. They are essentially the same save for minor programming differences, and of course, the delivery method, and upgrading to digital service with either was possible years before the mandatory elimination of analog TV in 2009.
That means that, at most, 12% of households needed to purchase a digital tuner for their television. Most cable and all satellite subscribers either had digital service already or was able to upgrade to it for a pittance.
I'm not sure why you think a majority of TV owners don't have cable. That's an entirely incorrect statement. Almost 60% did, again as of 2006.
Quote:People will get a device to listen to radio if they HAVE to do so or else just hear static. That's the POINT of a mandatory upgrade. I really don't see any functional difference. Again, at first it'll just be AM.
I'm saying, most people won't care enough to get a device, because there are already so many alternatives to radio for your listening pleasure. You get rid of the AM band, most of the stations using it will simply disappear. The major ones, like the talk radio carriers, would either find an FM station to carry their feed, jump into XM, or go under themselves. You're not going to find any significant market for an adapter attachment specifically designed to receive digital AM radio. It'd be better to simply eliminate it altogether and let the stations sink or swim as they will.http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/20...llite.html
YOU CANNOT HIDE FOREVER
WE STAND AT THE DOOR
WE STAND AT THE DOOR