[LINK] digital TV conversion - psychology of the consumer

[Marghanita da Cruz]

Craig Sanders wrote:
> On Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 02:28:33AM -0700, David Goldstein wrote:
>> If our government had the foresight of the Brits on digital
>> television, then maybe more people would be keen, but then they have
>> their problems too. When you compare Freeview - http://freeview.co.uk/
>> - with what Howard outlined below, then it's no wonder so few
>> Australians take up digital television...
> 
> i just don't get it. an SD set top box costs $50 or less these days,
> and greatly improves both reception and picture/sound quality (if you
> get a signal at all, it'll be perfect. otherwise nothing). that's
> significantly less than what people spend on getting a new antenna
> installed to improve reception.
> 
> more channels may or may not be desirable (IF they included some variety
> rather than just more of the same crap american cop shows, banal dramas,
> and reality tv garbage), but IMO the improvement in quality is worth it
> anyway.
> 
> 
> if they cost $50 retail, with profit included, they must land in the
> country from china at about $20 or maybe $30. if the govt really wants
> to accelerate the adoption of digital TV, it could bulk order a lot
> of them and give them to low income households so that they are not
> disadvantaged by the changeover.
> 

Following David's reference,
<http://freeview.co.uk/switchover>

> All this great TV deserves great reception, so it might be a good idea to get your aerial checked. You can get in touch with the Confederation of Aerial Industries (CAI) www.cai.org.uk or the Independent Digital Standards Commission (IDSC) www.idsc.uk.com who can give you details of one or more aerial engineers who operate in your area. 

noting Howards comments, and a neighbour's interest in an outside antennae 
having purchased a giant TV, it seems this could be another area of skills shortage.

Marghanita
-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
http://www.ramin.com.au
Phone: 0414 869202