No wonder the digital TV transition seems to be going so slow: journalists never seem to get the idea that it’s already happened. Every time I read an article about DTV, the facts are all wrong or the writer subliminally makes it seem that it’s not happened yet. For example:
In the coming months, digital technology will allow each of the nation’s local television stations to broadcast several channels each instead of just one.
In the coming months? Um, digital television has been on the air (here in Washington) for years. And at least one station, WETA, has been broadcasting multiple channels since 1998 or so.
I also keep seeing blog posts and messages complaining about such things as sound and picture problems on DTV stations — like my own from last night — which are dismissed by people saying “it’s new” and “they’re having teething problems.” Folks, if your kid is having teething problems when he’s 6 years old, it’s time to take him to the dentist.
DTV is here, it’s been here, and the technology is quite old and mature now. In fact, it’s already been supplanted by MPEG-4 and others, which makes the transition even more difficult because some people think it should be scrapped for newer technology. Regardless, referring to DTV as if it’s some new thing just around the corner is not helping the transition. People should be told that if they don’t have DTV receivers or sets, they’re behind the times.
