Come 2009 and TV viewing in the US would altogether hit a different level. There will not be any random changes but the only difference would be the fact that people thriving on viewership using rabbit ears or an antenna would not be able to do so unless they have a converter that converts digital signals to analogue. People who purchased a TV after March 2007 would not have to worry about this as all models sold after the same come with in-built digital tuner. Likewise, people who access channels through a cable connection or a satellite dish would also not be affected.
The entire row about the transition from analogue to digital has left the common man bewildered in the US and to help people do away with this, Comcast is working hard in making people aware of all the changes and how they would have to adjust to the same if at all there is a need. For those who do not have a digital tuner in-built and use rabbit ears or an antenna, a federal government program is making available two coupons of $40 each available which helps them to purchase a tuner from any of the local dealers on presentation of the coupons.
The layman is always confused about changes unless he practically implicates and understands them. Thus, over a longer period of time, this transition would only make people happier for digital signals would ensure better picture quality on account of higher pixels and better sound quality on most occasions. It is only the adaptation which is tough but as one gets through it, the public in general would definitely stand to gain.
[Source: Redorbit]
