Computers & Technology >
TV
Get a Widget for this title
RSS FeedShould we be forced to have only digital TV?
Results so far:
| Yes | 32% | 202 votes | Total: 631 votes | |
| No | 68% | 429 votes |
Yes
Write now
Print
Invite a writer™
Add to FavoritesI was originally one of those opposed to the notion that we should all give up analogue television and be forced to watch only digital, back when I first heard of this change back around 2000 on Behind The News, a children's news program. I did not see the reason why we should have to switch to digital, and back then I thought we should be allowed to have both formats operating simultaneously.
But since then I have reconsidered my opinion, and now, after having stopped watching television early last month, I would say that we should have to switch to digital. Putting aside the various technical reasons, financial reasons, etc, it just seems that holding on to analogue would be like running steam trains alongside electric trains just because we used to run steam trains. And as much as I would not be opposed to that scenario, in the case of digital television I just can not see any worthwhile reason not to switch to digital.
Firstly you either have digital or you have analogue. Either that or you have two television sets adjacent to each other so you can switch between broadcasts, and as all analogue content (at least where I live) is also on digital broadcasts and in much higher quality, why not switch entirely to digital? Digital has numerous advantages over analogue. Electronic program guides, for instance, are useful (despite the fact advertisement breaks still remind us what channel we are watching and what is coming up next) and the reception is an obvious advantage.
Up until late last year I watched analogue television, and having an aerial on top of my television set rather than a roof antenna, I found myself constantly moving its position hither and thither to get a clearer picture. It was very frustrating, and with digital television you do not need to do quite so much moving of you aerial to get a clear picture. And when you do get a clear picture it is perfectly clear, with only occasional static.
And let us not forget the variety of programming digital brings with it. There are far more channels with digital than analogue. For those with pay television of course that is not so much of a point, but the extra channels in digital television are free.
However as the content of all television has in my opinion gone downhill of late I do not watch it at all any more, but I still reckon making the switch to digital is worth it. After all top boxes only cost thirty dollars where I live.
Learn more about this author, Mark Waybill.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
No
It is not a matter of whether it is better technology or if it is better for the public, it is the fact that we were not given the choice. I don't believe that people are afraid of change so much as they feel there freedom of choices are slowly being taken away. We are living in a time with great changes taking place everyday. Many of the US population are living in a state of mind in which there lives are already being controlled by too much government. Times are tough right now for a lot of people and this is just one more thing for them to deal with. One more choice not given to the public vote. Far too many people just sit back oblivious to what is going on in the world around them, until it affects them directly or it is too late to make a change.
The point being simply that we were not given the choice. For those who already have a digital television or cable television there was no difference at all in there programming, when the change took place. But for some, there way of life and maybe the only form of entertainment or news source was disrupted and with so many households in turmoil financially right now not everyone can afford to go out and buy a converter box or digital TV. It is unfair for those who were not affected by this to rudely dismiss others as being afraid or too frugal to pay for the necessary equipment to upgrade.
There are some areas of the country where, believe it or not cable is not available and not all basic cable plans are cheap. And you really have to read the fine print carefully on satellite services to qualify for there 20.00 a month plans. At the least if someone had an antenna on the roof of there home they could get the local news channel to know what was going on around them or get the weather forecast, but now if they don't have digital TV, cable or a converter box they are not getting the news.
If you are among the many unemployed you know how hard it is to just get the necessary bills paid without having to worry about buying extras. Yes, there are many other more important issues than the Digital TV out there. But the question was Should We Be Forced to Have Only Digital TV.
Learn more about this author, Julie O'Brien.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
