Esse Quam Videri
To be, rather than to seem. That’s our state motto and a pretty good analogy of digital technology in our homes today. Some readers think that because they have been watching an HD set for years, that everyone is also watching on HD sets. It took color TV sets 10 years to become popular, and almost 20 years to become the standard in homes.
Digital seems to be running far ahead of the color TV transition, but still has a way to go before it is the dominant display format in homes without using a converter box. The price of today’s sets are now inline with what we’re used to paying, and the availability of actual HD programming is gaining, but still not where it needs to be, just like color programming lagged behind consumer’s desires in the Sixties. It’s all catching up, but still, not as fast as we seem to think it should be.
I openly admit, that I watch a ton of streaming video on the Internet. I want a huge central storage drive array accessible by all my TV sets and computers. I want a Roku box to watch streaming video on my TV, even though it could put me (broadcasting) out of business very soon. It seems like the number of people watching video on the Internet is very low. Most shows are lucky to have 500 viewers at a time on the Internet.
As broadband gets faster, we seem to think everyone has broadband, rather than the huge number of dial-up connections still active today. I could not imagine going back to a 56K modem that connects at 33K if the wind is blowing right, but that is reality for a lot of computer users who get on, read email, and log off.
As I told one viewer in an email response, I was hoping the Christmas buying season would propel the number of HD sets and bring them closer to “the norm” in homes. Although my family did their part, the economy didn’t help out a lot, but their are bargains out there to be had. If you didn’t get one from Santa, I encourage you to go out and get one now while the price war is in full swing.
It does not really matter that much where you buy, just buy! Wal-Mart and Target have been very competitive this year on pricing, and CompUSA on Capital Blvd. surprised the heck out of me with knowledgeable, friendly, helpful customer service, and HH Gregg was close behind. As for Best Buy, what has happened to you guys since Circuit City closed their doors? You used to be my “happy place”, and I would have spent all day there if you had a Geek Cafe’ to feed me while visiting. I wasn’t impressed this year. Put a Starbucks or Subway in that wasted space to right of the front door! (and drop some prices, please!)
In the program provider category, you can use an antenna, cable or satellite to receive your signals. The cable and satellite providers seem to deliver signals to your TV, computers and provide support. I am not associated with any of those providers, and have little influence on them except to request them to investigate service issues you report to us. You are paying them to deliver your signals, and therefore you have more control of their service than I do. If you can’t get a resolution from your cable provider, contact your town hall who controls the franchise agreement with them. Ask anyone in Wilson how they like their service!
As for HD news, we are once again pushing to convert early next year. It’s an expensive investment in equipment that the economy just didn’t allow us to spend last year,nor the year before, but we are hopeful to convert early next year. I doubt we’ll be able to do it before the Olympics, but we hope to go at least widescreen 480i in the first quarter. Our current studio cameras just don’t look good in 16:9 and we have to replace them first. Our news set takes 6 cameras to cover all the angles, where other newscasts only need 3 or 4, so we have a huge investment to make just in cameras. In the meantime, we are trying to keep the content relevant and not waste your time with flash, smoke and mirrors.
So to wrap up this Holiday season, get out there and buy an HD set. Shop around for your program providers and switch if you’re not happy. Home entertainment should not be stressful!
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Hi Russ,
Relative to buying a new TV, I still recommend
the slow and easy “el cheapo” approach. Many of
the audience may have spending limitations due
to the economy and you said it yourself:
“… I want a Roku box to watch streaming video
on my TV, even though it could put me … out
of business very soon. …”
My morning newspaper had an item this morning
that advertising cutbacks may mean providers
will cut back on “free” content because they
just don’t have the revenue to continue. That
would clearly translate to no OTA and require
all viewers to have cable or satellite (at a
higher price than now, probably).
If that happens, I will definitely just “pull
the plug” on my television viewing. I do have
plenty of other things to keep me busy (and
amused).
Some others may feel quite let down by such a
development and the politicians may take some
degree of flak. The ancient Romans followed a
policy that found it necessary for plebian calm
not to compromise the “bread and circuses” bit.
Hopefully we won’t see anything worse than a
number of unemployed former politicians.