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In The Digital Age, Some Viewers Miss Analog TV

Anger turns to resignation and sadness

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

June 30, 2009

The long-anticipated and once-delayed switch from analog broadcasting to digital took place June 12, and despite U.S. government claims to the contrary, it was hardly seamless. Consumers who once pulled in distant stations with rooftop antennas were left with limited, unreliable reception from stations across town.

Christy, of Alpharetta, Georgia, says she bought two converter boxes for her two TVs and neither works properly. She calls herself a “very discouraged” analog TV owner.

“I was very happy with my analog and had had a $400 outside antenna installed a few years ago that was working wonderfully,” she told Consumeraffairs.com. “Now I am stuck with a useless TV system.”

Those who have received television via cable or satellite for years perhaps can't relate to consumers struggling to bring in stations over the air. While some remember the golden age of TV broadcasting as ghostly images and “snow” on the screens, others found a certain romance in watching “The Office” the same way their parents watched “I Love Lucy.”

And still others didn't have any other options.

“I have two TVs without cable because I can't afford it,” Steve, from Chicago, told Consumeraffairs.com “ I went out and got the converter box and two different antennas. Still to this day I can only watch one channel, which is the Muslim channel.”

Steve is frustrated by the converter boxes and is sad about the loss of TV, not only for himself but also for his family.

“The sorry thing is watching my grandma trying to work those converter boxes,” he said. Its sad to watch. The old lady can't even watch TV anymore — probably the only thing she ever looks forward to nowadays.”

Karen, of Oakland, Calif., bought a digital TV before the June 12 transition. It worked well, she said, until the change-over on June 12.

“Before, I received as many as 20 channels. Now I get three,” she told Consumeraffairs.com. “I refuse to pay for cable so I guess my TV watching days are over. I just want to thank my elected officials for their handouts to their corporate sponsors.”

With cable and satellite penetration growing each year, fewer and fewer consumers relied on free, over-the-air broadcast television. Government policymakers concluded that a better use of the analog broadcast spectrum would be to auction it off for use by mobile communications devices.

The U.S. Government will, in fact, reap billions of dollars from the sale, but it's small consolation to Christey, Steve, Karen, and millions of others who, out of choice or necessity, received television free and reliably over the air.

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