digital tv transition nate gallert cbe 555 february 23, 2009
TRANSCRIPT
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/