The good and bad about digital TV

March 17, 2008 11:47 pm admin DirecTV

There are many benefits in Digital TV. Many different sectors in the entertainment industry has come together to make this technology the sole way for broadcast transmission. TV broadcasters, consumer electronics industry and Federal Government have decided to make TV airing totally digital starting on February 19, 2009.

Without considering any economic or political benefit or pitfall, digital TV will definitely bring a number of benefits after it replaces the old analog format which is in use right now.

The new digital format will use computer equipment to convert images and sound of a TV into digital format before transmitting to the viewers. When the TV signal arrives at the destination, another computer device will cleanse the interference out of the signal and reconstruct it in to the TV programming to let the viewer enjoy clear pictures and great sound. This is one great improvement that viewers can expect when digital TV takes over analog TV. Another added feature of the digital TV is it allows an on-screen program guide even when programming is being aired. There are also some other similar features with this new digital TV. Digital TV transmission uses compression technology that will take up less bandwidth. This will leave more frequencies for other purposes.

With all the advantages surrounding digital TV, there are some little drawbacks that make it inferior to analog TV in some area. For instance, the analog TV can transmit a greater distance than digital TV. Even if you are far away from the analog TV source, you would still be able to get understandable TV. At worst cases, the picture will become fuzzy and not clear. As for the digital TV, the picture quality will fade as it gets further from the source and will disappears when it reaches its maximum distance. Therefore, there are still some viewers sticking to analog TV because they might not be able to get a strong digital signal in their area. So, they are better off with analog TV. So, this reason makes the huge antennas on the rooftop popular again.

Another disadvantage of digital TV is the need for a TV tuner. This TV tuner is not built in the older TV sets. Therefore, after 19 February 2009, one will have to get a new TV set or purchase a special TV box to convert the analog signal to digital signal so that it can be shown through the TV screen.

This means that the electronic manufacturers will make huge profit. This is the so-called political and economical advantages that consumers are unhappy with. Whatever case it may be, they will have to sell of their analog TV set or convert it when the day of digital TV comes.

In the long run, TV viewers in America will benefit from the introduction of digital TV. Although they may be confused and frustrated over the change, they will realize that this change is a change for the better.