Is free TV going to make a comeback?
I meant to post this last week to go along with my story about the antenna’s role in the digital TV transition.
During my interview with Richard Schneider, president of Antennas Direct, he made what seemed a rather bold prediction. He estimated that within three years, 25-30 percent of households will get their television free over the air - the old fashioned way. Currently, that figure is around 15 percent nationwide.
His reasoning is that digital television signals are so much better than the analog signals they’re replacing. Some say the signal actually looks better when you view it over-the-air, rather than through cable or satellite. But also, since the digital signal is so much more compact than analog, broadcast stations can transmit multiple signals at the same time.
“In some markets, you could get 30 or more channels for free,” Schneider said.
Obviously, this isn’t going to appeal to fans of premium movie channels and top-line sports programming. But for basic cable subscribers - and those looking to cut monthly expenses - you can see how this might catch on.
Tim has covered a wide range of topics, including tourism, crime, aviation and gambling, since becoming a reporter in 1990. The Oklahoma native joined the Post-Dispatch in 2007 after spending nine years in Orlando. In his spare time, he's often exploring one virtual world or another. He can be reached at tbarker@post-dispatch.com. 
I think this might be the case for people wh oare close to urban areas. However, I see the opposite in rural areas that will have trouble getting the weaker digital signal. The latter might jump on the cable/satellite bandwagon. That, or stations will need to get some sort of repeater towers going to address folks in these areas.
Excellent point.
I’m guessing this might only imply to larger metro areas.
I’ve decided not to make the transition to digital by buying a converter. Instead, I’ve drawn a face on my old TV and now talk to it incessantly, like Tom Hanks did with the volleyball in `Castaway.’ My new friend’s name is Emerson.
One day soon, right around the time broadcast viewership cracks 20%, a pay-TV channel will migrate to an x.2 digital channel, and everything will change. Two bits sez it’ll be MSNBC, at 5.2.
…………..well, nothing draws customers like the word “free”, and I think with the addition of more and more channels, it will gain a lot of the market very soon.