Best Buy Stops Selling Analog Televisions in Response to New Broadcasting Regulations

[zekrahminator]

For those of you that still subscribe to analog television services, and still use old-fashioned "analog" televisions, you finally have a legitimate excuse to go to your local electronics store and splurge: by February 19th, 2009, all analog broadcasts to consumer televisions will be prohibited in America. All broadcasts from then on will be all digital. Consumers with analog televisions can approach this two ways. They can buy a digital-to-analog converter box, which should cost about $70. Or, the consumer can buy a brand new HDTV. Best Buy is hoping that consumers will do the latter. To help sway consumers in favor of dropping large amounts of cash to a brand new television, and to make sure that their new television customers will be satisfied for years to come, they've stopped selling analog televisions altogether.

Customers can now be sure that any television they purchase at Best Buy will be fully compliant with the digital television transition. And for customers who aren't in the market for a new television, we can help you find the best solution to meet your needs

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[JrRacinFan]

Yeah, stinkin' FCC, I wonder if you will be allowed to write-off your new TV set as a tax deduction because of the new ruling! HAHAH

On a serious note though, the ruling has also played a huge damper on my job. I will not go into full details about that.

I wonder how the ruling will effect off-air radio broadcasts as well.

 

[Eric3988]

C'mon I know the FCC is being a little pushy, but when aren't they? I'm sure anybody who has a tv can afford a $70 converter. Once you go HD you will wonder why you stayed in standard for so long. I do not have any HD sets myself, but I'm either going to get a converter for mine or just fork over a few hundred for a set around 30". Remember you don't need a 60" set to enjoy HD. I've just been waiting so long because I want a cheaper 1080p set. Right now they still are too expensive, but I heard they're going to drop around Christmas, so let's see.

 

[Kreij]

C'mon I know the FCC is being a little pushy, but when aren't they? I'm sure anybody who has a tv can afford a $70 converter. Once you go HD you will wonder why you stayed in standard for so long. I do not have any HD sets myself, but I'm either going to get a converter for mine or just fork over a few hundred for a set around 30". Remember you don't need a 60" set to enjoy HD. I've just been waiting so long because I want a cheaper 1080p set. Right now they still are too expensive, but I heard they're going to drop around Christmas, so let's see.

The government is issuing $40 vouchers ,to anyone who requests one and says they depend on analog broadcasts (which is anyone because they are not going to check), to use for the purchase of a converter. That means that the converter will end up costing the consumer only $30.

 

[vega22]

they dropped the analog broadcast in my area of the uk earlier this year and almost nobody knew they were doing it. people compliand and they turned it back on, it will be stopping for good at the start of next year tho.

 

[ktr]

digital terrestrial signals ftw! maybe we can finally get that ps3 dvr then.

 

[Easy Rhino]

the FCC has already pushed the date back several times and im sure they will push the february date back as well. a lot of the smaller tv stations in the US havnt had the money to broadcast digitally yet. and there is no good reason why the FCC is doing this. it certainly isnt for "public service." be skeptical people...be very skeptical...

 

[Behemoko]

The fact that we are going all digital has been known for a long time, as is the fact that they are giving out 1 free digital converter per household, but it's about time BB goes all digital.

 

[DaMulta]

My old black and white TV that I like to watch Si-Fi on will no longer work here soon

 

[WarEagleAU]

But HD looks so much better on bigger screens. I definitely want me a 65" 1080p Plasma, LCD or DLP TV. I mean, what guy doesnt?

 

[zaqwsx]

We just got a samsung 42in plasma tv and its sweet.

 

[AsRock]

This is annoying not everyone in America can afford a Digi setup. Unlike the UK you are SUPPOSED to be paying a TV license so not to sure how thats going work out. As last time i was there it was around $110 a year.

Just another reason i hate Digital.

In the UK is supposed to be 100% digi by 2012 were as the US by 2009?. Sheesh... And to be honest i cannot see much differance from Analog and Digital even more so how much more it costs. I guess it's a way to make sure everyones paying up huh.

 

[imperialreign]

get the HD's now, y'all . . . the closer it gets to Feb 09 and the more people realize what's about to happen, the cost of the HD's will start climbing quickly . . . simple supply and demand . . .


unless the manufacturers start beefing up production to meet the impending demand . . . doubtful

 

[HatesFury0]

Firstly, i'm shocked that there are this many replies without anyone having pointed out the flaw in this story (and that's not a shot at the author, i think this was copied from someone else).

1st off, how many of you are getting your "tech updates" regarding TV from the Best Buy salesman???? PC monitors have been digital for ages, long before 1080p, and far too many people seem to miss this.

The FCC rules is NOT that all programming must be HD by 2009, it must be digital. YOUR TV IS NOT GOING TO STOP WORKING. 90-95% of all TV's in use at this point in time are already digital. No converter box, no new TV needed. If you bought your TV within the last 15 years chances are it's digital. If your TV supports channels higher than 69 it IS digital, and if your TV has any RCA connections it IS digital. This story centers around how easily the "mob" is tossed into a panic over nothing or a misunderstanding. In 2009 the TV you bought for christmas last year WILL work.

The simple fact of the matter is that most TV stations are going to HD. If you already have to rip our you existing equipment (analog) and spend tons of money replacing it (digital) then why not drop the extra money and get the best you can (HD) now, rather than wait 10 years when that will be the standard, and you'll be stuck upgrading again? The TV industry, along with comission based selling compnies and greesy sales people everywhere have convinced people that what "most" are doing is actually what all are doing, and tried to sell you a TV by making you believe it was mandatory.

Would you ask the car salesman to give you fair, accurate, unbiased information about the car he's trying to sell you??? Then why are you believing the retail salesman?

90% of television is already digital right now. If you get you TV from a source other than an outdoor (ota) antenna then you're probably getting digital. Cable went digital in most place, satellite (DBS) has been digital for many years now, DVD players are ditigal, etc etc. Please don't panic, don't sell your TV's, and don't sink huge ammounts of money into a HDTV unless you WANT one, because you don't NEED one.

Sorry for ranting. I work in the TV bizz and i've been crushing this falsification ever since retail salesman started spewing it 2 years ago .

 

[FR@NK]

Firstly, i'm shocked.....If your TV supports channels higher than 69 it IS digital, and if your TV has any RCA connections it IS digital.

I think you're confusing a digital tv with a digital tv that can receive digital signals over-the-air. Just because a tv can have channels over 69 doesnt mean that it can receive digital signals over-the-air.

 

[HatesFury0]

I think you're confusing a digital tv with a digital tv that can receive digital signals over-the-air. Just because a tv can have channels over 69 doesnt mean that it can receive digital signals over-the-air.

Not at all sir. Here's a good article for anyone who thinks i'm nuts .

http://www.boston.com/business/tech.../fcc_rule_requires_all_new_tvs_to_be_digital/

The main point i'm trying to make here is that (i'm guessing at this number, but i've heard teh real number before and i'm pretty sure this is correct) 80% of all american households DO NOT receive their television via OTA signal. They subscribe to a distributor (comshit, dish, directTV, etc, etc). I really could care less if you guys want to run out and buy HDTV's, they nice. The point is i don't want people who don't need\want HD to be duped into believeing that they do need to get a new TV. Working int he TB biz the last 3 years i've seen far too many conned into buying something they didn't want, didn't need, they don't understand, and they end up hating it.

And i'd also like to point out that yet again someone has fallen for the hype. Best Buy never had your best interest at heart. The goverment is mandating all TV's going foreword have a digital OTA tuner. Best Buy just tried to make themselves look good by boasting about switching over when they never had a choice.