Digital TV Digital TV TransitionTransition

Nate GallertNate Gallert

CBE 555CBE 555

February 23, 2009February 23, 2009

OutlineOutline

What is it?What is it? ImpactImpact Pros/ConsPros/Cons Why it is happeningWhy it is happening Current progressCurrent progress Example of successful transitionExample of successful transition

What is it?What is it?

TV signals will be broadcast TV signals will be broadcast exclusively in digital format – not exclusively in digital format – not necessarily in HDnecessarily in HD

No more analog signalsNo more analog signals

““Bunny-ear” antennas won’t workBunny-ear” antennas won’t work

What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

Analog TV signalAnalog TV signal Sends a complete picture 30 times per Sends a complete picture 30 times per

secondsecond

Has “graceful degredation” outside Has “graceful degredation” outside service rangeservice range

Sends all channels continuously Sends all channels continuously through coaxial cablethrough coaxial cable

What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

Digital TV signalDigital TV signal More efficient compression allows more More efficient compression allows more

information to be sent within same information to be sent within same bandwidthbandwidth

Sends only reference frames and Sends only reference frames and intermittent changesintermittent changes

Consumers select desired channel signal Consumers select desired channel signal to be sent to TVto be sent to TV

Who does this affect?Who does this affect?

People using over-the-air “bunny People using over-the-air “bunny ear” antennasear” antennas

Rural areasRural areas

Low-income householdsLow-income households

ElderlyElderly

Who does this affect?Who does this affect?

21 million homes receive over-the-air TV 21 million homes receive over-the-air TV signals (15% of population)signals (15% of population)

45 million TVs in these homes (2.1 45 million TVs in these homes (2.1 TVs/home)TVs/home)

28 million additional TVs in homes with 28 million additional TVs in homes with cable or satellitecable or satellite

73 million TVs don’t have digital tuners73 million TVs don’t have digital tuners

Benefits of Digital Benefits of Digital FormatFormat

Multicasting: more effective use of Multicasting: more effective use of bandwidth from more efficient bandwidth from more efficient compressioncompression

Interactive TV viewingInteractive TV viewing

Increased revenue for governmentIncreased revenue for government

Availability of analog frequencies for Availability of analog frequencies for other usesother uses

Downsides to Digital Downsides to Digital FormatFormat

Older TVs only have analog tuner; people Older TVs only have analog tuner; people have to purchase and install converter boxeshave to purchase and install converter boxes

TV may get caught up on a reference frameTV may get caught up on a reference frame

Multipath reflection : over-the-air signal Multipath reflection : over-the-air signal bounces off nearby buildings, causing bounces off nearby buildings, causing different frames to hit TV at same timedifferent frames to hit TV at same time

May need to move antenna depending on the May need to move antenna depending on the channel being watchedchannel being watched

Why is this happening?Why is this happening?

Legislature learned Japan had high-Legislature learned Japan had high-definition TV as early as 1980s definition TV as early as 1980s (analog format)(analog format)

US Government wanted to develop US Government wanted to develop new broadcasting system (Advanced new broadcasting system (Advanced Television System Committee)Television System Committee)

Found digital broadcasting wasn’t Found digital broadcasting wasn’t effective unless compressedeffective unless compressed

Types of Digital FormatsTypes of Digital Formats

18 authorized DTV formats18 authorized DTV formats StandardStandard

EnhancedEnhanced

High definition (includes 1080i and High definition (includes 1080i and 720p formats)720p formats)

1080i – 1,080 lines on screen1080i – 1,080 lines on screen Transmits odd lines, then even, and Transmits odd lines, then even, and

interlacesinterlaces

720p – 720 lines on screen, one after 720p – 720 lines on screen, one after anotheranother

Types of Digital FormatsTypes of Digital Formats

Why is this happening?Why is this happening?

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005Deficit Reduction Act of 2005

Revenue from selling access rights to Revenue from selling access rights to 108 MHz of analog frequencies 108 MHz of analog frequencies (~$20B)(~$20B)

Analog frequencies then used for Analog frequencies then used for public safety systems or advanced public safety systems or advanced cellular servicescellular services

What is being done to What is being done to help?help?

Can apply for up to two $40 vouchers to offset Can apply for up to two $40 vouchers to offset costs of buying digital converter box ($50-$70)costs of buying digital converter box ($50-$70)

https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspxhttps://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx

Jan. 2009 - 6.5 million households not ready for Jan. 2009 - 6.5 million households not ready for switchswitch Couldn’t afford box/didn’t get couponCouldn’t afford box/didn’t get coupon Voucher program ran out of fundingVoucher program ran out of funding Retail locations ran out of converter boxesRetail locations ran out of converter boxes

Transition DelayedTransition Delayed

Originally set for February 17, 2009Originally set for February 17, 2009

Current economic situation – people can’t Current economic situation – people can’t afford to buy the converter boxesafford to buy the converter boxes

Don’t want people ‘left in the dark’Don’t want people ‘left in the dark’

Date pushed back until June 12, 2009Date pushed back until June 12, 2009 $650M more funding for box coupons$650M more funding for box coupons

Transition DelayedTransition Delayed

500 stations nationwide applied to FCC 500 stations nationwide applied to FCC to switch to digital anywayto switch to digital anyway

Only allowed if at least one station in Only allowed if at least one station in area still has analog signal (123 area still has analog signal (123 applications rejected)applications rejected)

Added expense to continue broadcasting Added expense to continue broadcasting in both analog and digital ($22M for PBS)in both analog and digital ($22M for PBS)

Working Out the KinksWorking Out the Kinks

Limited number of stations in a Limited number of stations in a particular area at this pointparticular area at this point

Grainy, unresolved imagesGrainy, unresolved images

Blacked out screensBlacked out screens

Coverage maps - http://tvfool.com/Coverage maps - http://tvfool.com/

Successful TransitionSuccessful Transition

Three major networks in San Diego, CA Three major networks in San Diego, CA switched to digital February 18, 2009switched to digital February 18, 2009

Local stations had run aggressive Local stations had run aggressive campaigns to notify viewers they would campaigns to notify viewers they would be switchingbe switching

Believed that 30,000 homes in viewing Believed that 30,000 homes in viewing area unprepared for switcharea unprepared for switch

Successful TransitionSuccessful Transition

Stations set up call centers to handle Stations set up call centers to handle the expected large number of viewer the expected large number of viewer complaintscomplaints

Transition went smoothlyTransition went smoothly ABC affiliate – 50 callsABC affiliate – 50 calls CBS affiliate – 20 calls, 30 emailsCBS affiliate – 20 calls, 30 emails Fox affiliate – 20 callsFox affiliate – 20 calls

Contacts For QuestionsContacts For Questions

1-888-CALLFCC (1-888-225-5322) 1-888-CALLFCC (1-888-225-5322)

http://www.dtv.gov/http://www.dtv.gov/

Questions?Questions?

ReferencesReferences http://http://www.dtv.govwww.dtv.gov// https://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspxhttps://www.dtv2009.gov/ApplyCoupon.aspx http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=digital-tv-to-comehttp://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=digital-tv-to-come http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=fcc-to-tv-statiohttp://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=fcc-to-tv-statio

ns-ready-to-make-th-2009-02-13ns-ready-to-make-th-2009-02-13 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/01/26/entertainmenhttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/01/26/entertainmen

t/e131659S50.DTLt/e131659S50.DTL http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gncM__9eCAaX9Dhttp://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gncM__9eCAaX9D

csR-J3a8YRYIcQcsR-J3a8YRYIcQ http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=will-dtv-transithttp://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=will-dtv-transit

ion-be-delayed-2009-01-09ion-be-delayed-2009-01-09 http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/business/la-fi-digitaltv19-200http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/business/la-fi-digitaltv19-200

9feb19,0,5471875.story9feb19,0,5471875.story http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/business/media/18digital.html?http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/business/media/18digital.html?

ref=mediaref=media http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/d/http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/d/

digital_television_transition/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=digital%20TVdigital_television_transition/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=digital%20TV%20transition&st=cse%20transition&st=cse

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/d/http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/d/digital_television_transition/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=digital%20TVdigital_television_transition/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=digital%20TV%20transition&st=cse%20transition&st=cse

http://tvfool.com/http://tvfool.com/