Venting CBS Stupidity

[NewsMom]

I hate starting my day pissed off at stupidity.

This morning, some lame contributor on the CBS Early show was highlighting great deals on Plasma and LCDs. As he started out, though, this guy authoritatively stated that the federal government mandates that by 2009 all broadcast TV stations must broadcast High Def.

SOMEBODY at CBS: please go yell at someone for me. MAN, this pisses me off.

High Definition is not the same as digital transmission.

And, to compound his errors, the contributor further suggested that folks with "rabbit ears" or other antennas will be totally out of luck when the new transmissions begin.

Indeed, these are common misperceptions. But this guy was there EXCLUSIVELY to share his "expertise" about consumer TVs.

STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.

[DoneThatToo]

I hear ya! What is even more unbeliveable is last week I was having a conversation with a fellow employee. He didn't know he could get BROADCAST HD!!!! Thought he had to buy it from cable or sat!!! I actually had to laugh in his face . . .

[wx or not]

Let's not forget the first rule of modern journalism: consider your audience first. Authenticity be damned, facts be damned, professionalism be damned. We've got to cater to the lowest common denominator, or else be swept away. (or do we?)

[Rosenblum]

Now you want the frightening part.....
You pick up on the error because you know a lot about TV. My doctor brother in law says that the news shows make horrific mistakes about medical stories daily, because he knows medicine. Before I got into the TV biz I was a grad student in Islamic history. I hear the most inane mistakes on network news when they cover the middle east almost daily.... but what do I know about medical stories. I assume they're true. In fact, I think that most of what is reported is wrong.

[!]

I hate starting my day pissed off at stupidity.
And, to compound his errors, the contributor further suggested that folks with "rabbit ears" or other antennas will be totally out of luck when the new transmissions begin.

Given that today's (non-digital) TVs will be useless without converters if they use an antenna, he might have mentioned that, as well as the coupon offer that allows consumers to get a $40 credit toward the purchase of a converter.

[Clubbeat]

The Expert at CBS that newsmom refers to isn't the only one out here making false claims. Check out just about any electronics store and ask the 20-something clerk about the whole digital conversion that broadcasters are in te process of doing and listen to some of the dumbest and most incorrect answers.

It sort of reminds me of the people who vote in elections based soley on the tv ads or how the candidate "looks & sounds". Same way with the digital conversion. Most consumers will make a purchase based on an ad they saw or heard. Great way to get people to buy stuff they probably don't need.

[NewsMom]

Wouldn't it be great if some of us could somehow let people know the truth? Wow, if only we had a way to do that......

[DoneThatToo]

Wouldn't it be great if some of us could somehow let people know the truth? Wow, if only we had a way to do that......

My station airs at least 90 HD / Digital educational spots per month. Yes it may be only 3 per day and I am sure at least one run is in over night. But we do run these spots during more heavily viewed times. And our front page on the web has a HD Info link that explains not only HD but digital shutoff too.

Plus we have done the occasional story tie-in. Especially now with Christmas shopping heating up. But folks just aren't getting it. Some folks are just going to be really p'ed when they wake up one day and all they see is snow...

[Cumulo-nimbus]

Now you want the frightening part.....
You pick up on the error because you know a lot about TV. My doctor brother in law says that the news shows make horrific mistakes about medical stories daily, because he knows medicine. Before I got into the TV biz I was a grad student in Islamic history. I hear the most inane mistakes on network news when they cover the middle east almost daily.... but what do I know about medical stories. I assume they're true. In fact, I think that most of what is reported is wrong.

Me too! It makes me wonder about anything I hear on the news.

[CKMD]

Me too! It makes me wonder about anything I hear on the news.

Or the weather.:bs:

All stations are supposed to be airing those Digital Conversion PSA's several times per day by now...many, like mine, also offer a link on the website to FAQ's about the conversion.

Here's my question: How come I can't get the over the air Digital/HD channels with my Digital/HD reciever built into my TV? No one ever tells you why. I know why...but I want t hear from all you smart people.

[DoneThatToo]

Or the weather.:bs:

All stations are supposed to be airing those Digital Conversion PSA's several times per day by now...many, like mine, also offer a link on the website to FAQ's about the conversion.

Here's my question: How come I can't get the over the air Digital/HD channels with my Digital/HD reciever built into my TV? No one ever tells you why. I know why...but I want t hear from all you smart people.

Ok I'm going to guess.

Have you scanned for the channels?? Knowing that 12 may actually be 54?

Oh, you do have an antenna right? And you are looking at that input?

You bought a cheap POS that only has the lable but not the actual tuner?

[CKMD]

I have scanned...no luck.
Do I need a special antenna? It says digital ready. The slot that says antenna/cable, I thought, was just for cables...not for a special antenna.
It says the tuner is built in.

[The Fedora]

I have scanned...no luck.
Do I need a special antenna? It says digital ready. The slot that says antenna/cable, I thought, was just for cables...not for a special antenna.
It says the tuner is built in.

Hey...

Yeah, you need an antenna. You can get a super duper HD antenna, or simply use a, old set top pair. I've seen both work. But ya gotta have something out there to catch the over the air signals.

Hope you are well.

[DoneThatToo]

Hey...

Yeah, you need an antenna. You can get a super duper HD antenna, or simply use a, old set top pair. I've seen both work. But ya gotta have something out there to catch the over the air signals.

Hope you are well.


Depending on how close your stations are will help determine the type of antenna. If you are resonably close to the broadcast towers a good set top antenna will work. Just make sure it is for both VHF and UHF (or if you know the broadcast channels then the antenna that is correct for that channel.) One with a built in gain isn't a bad thing either.

Once you have it hooked up the make sure you choose the correct input from your TV set-up menu. Then scan again . . .

[SamG]

I have scanned...no luck.
Do I need a special antenna? It says digital ready. The slot that says antenna/cable, I thought, was just for cables...not for a special antenna.
It says the tuner is built in.
A) There's no such thing as a "special" antenna. The HD logo on an antenna box is just that... a logo... there's no such thing as an "HD" antenna. They all work the same.
B) You need to plug the antenna into the antenna input on the TV. Some TVs have two connectors, one for cable, one for antenna, others have just one connector for both.
C) You might need a VHF only antenna, a UHF only antenna, or a combo VHF/UHF. This is specific to the market. When in doubt, get the combo.
D) You also have a choice between an omni-directional (looks equally 360 degrees) or a directional (looks down a "beam" the way the antenna is pointed). If you're using an omni and not getting anything, you might be too far (or too close) to the transmitters. Too much signal will overdrive the tuner... if you have an amplifier, turn if off and see if that helps. If you don't have an amplifier, try it. A directional might help again depending on where you're located, you might have to point in one direction for one station and a different direction for another. Go to http://antennaweb.org (http://antennaweb.org/) for help on aiming your antenna.
E) You might need to raise the antenna (put it in an attic?).

[The Fedora]

Sam,

I was kinda making a joke, pointing out that you didn't need to go get a special antenna.

I have seen however antennas advertised as "developed especially for HD sets" they make me laugh.

[CKMD]

Thanks everybody...i figured that was the deal. I was wondering why those awesome sales people at American didn't tell me that. Asses.

Fedora: All is well....Christmas tree and lights are up and the baby is saying "Ho, Ho, Ho!"

[wx or not]

Thanks everybody...i figured that was the deal. I was wondering why those awesome sales people at American didn't tell me that. Asses.

Fedora: All is well....Christmas tree and lights are up and the baby is saying "Ho, Ho, Ho!"

Heavens, CKMD! You've got ho's in your neighborhood?:D

[CKMD]

Tons of Ho, Ho Ho's!!!!! My kid can pick them out from the regular folk! :)

[NewsMom]

Tsk, Tsk, Tsk,

You don't have time to e-mail your NewsMom, but you take part in thread-hijacking? Oh, your NewsMom is so sad.

Do you feel guilty?

Good. It's a Jewish NewsMom, you know.

[The Fedora]

Uh oh...

Think I'm in trouble folks...

[Eyegetit]

Could someone explain the broadcast conversion and what kind of a TV set or converter will be needed?
Thank you.

[DoneThatToo]

Could someone explain the broadcast conversion and what kind of a TV set or converter will be needed?
Thank you.

Simple. Analog broadcast will stop. Digital will be the norm. For over the air broadcast you will need either a TV with digital reciever or a digital to analog converter for your analog TV. If on cable or sat then you should not notice a difference.

[Eyegetit]

Thank you. I saved your explaination for future reference. It is pretty simple.