[LINK] US digital tv switch going ahead -- sort of

[David Lochrin]

It's an interesting discussion.  I wonder about motivation for takeup of digital TV, cable TV, and use of the Internet.

What added value does the U.S. cable-TV customer get over & above free-to-air TV?  No ads?  And does the digital FTA TV signal have a higher resolution than the analogue signal which is being switched off?  Has anyone estimated likely leakage to the Internet?

My impression is that Oz pay-TV is mainly attractive to those who watch a lot of TV, and I assume it also has no ads or at least a low advertising intensity (?).  It's not even available in medium sized regional centres, let alone smaller country towns.  I think if the FTA signals were switched off there would be a mass defection to the Internet (especially if the national broadband network were in place) and the ubiquitous video shop.

David