By Frank MacekWe've waited for this big day - February 17, 2009, for basically 12 years since the idea of digital broadcasting and high definition television was decided upon as the next logical step in our wonderful world of broadcasting.
Less than a month to go, lawmakers are being asked to postpone that mandate until at least June 12th. Broadcasters are not happy.
The number one concern of the President-elect is to ensure that everyone who needs $40 coupons to purchase analog to digital converter boxes have the ability to get them after the funds that Congress appropriated ran out. For those that have waited, will June 12th make any difference? Probably not.
Most of the consumers who are complaining waited too long. Many of the consumers who requested coupons never used them. Most of the consumers feel it's their right to free tv.
I have yet to read in the Constitution where people have the right to get television signals delivered in their homes at no cost to them. We certainly don't have the right as broadcasters to use the public airwaves for free. We pay large sums of money for license renewals and other government fees that are imposed on stations for the ability to broadcast a signal. And this is why we must sell advertising time to help offset that cost.
So, this delay becomes more an issue for us - the broadcasters. Most are ready for the transition date and have spent great time, effort and money in making sure they did their part to be ready on time. New technical equipment had to be bought, station infrastructure re-designed, new transmitters purchased and advertising time allocated for preparing the audience on the air.
Now, in this tough economy where every budget dollar counts, we are being asked to wait...and spend more money to keep two transmitters broadcasting for much longer than we expected. It's very likely any delay will cost stations more jobs and further lost revenue caused by consumer confusion that may ensue.
Had the broadcasters requested the delay, we would have likely been told "tough" by lawmakers and the Federal Communications Commission.
In my opinion, the transition date should happen on time. Customers have had a decade or more to prepare for this time. Anyone can purchase a converter box at any electronic store. They are readily available They aren't that expensive and it's simply not a valid excuse for a delay.
Yes, some viewers may be left out for economic reasons or lose coverage due to the new standards of the digital transmission. But the FCC mandated these changes at the broadcasters expense.
We simply can't afford to wait.
----
Editor note: In fairness, WKYC is currently in the process of building a new tower which may delay our ability to change from digital channel 2 to digital channel 17 on time, but we have been broadcasting digitally and in accordance with the FCC mandates this entire time.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of WKYC or Gannett. References to this article may be done with this understanding.
You comments can be posted below, or you may me: fmacek@wkyc.com
