RICK KUSHMAN: A primer on the coming digital wave
Earlier this week, we covered the 2009 conversion of TV to digital, except for all the really good questions that scores of people have asked since.I’m going to answer some of them today, but first, a quick reminder of what this is about.At midnight next Feb. 17, all analog television transmissions will stop, and TV signals will become digital. If you have any kind of digital cable or satellite service, or you get your reception from an antenna but have a digital receiver inside your TV, you won’t notice.If you use an antenna for an analog TV, you will need a converter box. Those run $50 to $70, and government discount coupons worth $40 are available. Each household can get two coupons, but sellers accept only one coupon per converter.Also, digital transmission is already going on, so you can switch at any time.After that, it gets a bit more detailed, and I’m going to break down the questions into a few basic categories:-Converter boxesEvery TV in the house needs its own digital connection, either through cable, satellite or a converter.The boxes are supposed to be very easy to connect, and you shouldn’t need to pay for help. The boxes are becoming available at most major electronics retailers.-CableIf you have cable, you won’t have to get a converter or shop for other equipment. But that doesn’t mean your cable company won’t force a change on you, and if they do, they’ll come to you.If you have digital cable now, nothing more is needed. But, if you have an analog box, or analog cable through a wall connection, it will depend on your company.Some cable companies will let you keep the analog equipment, and they’ll convert the signal for you. But many companies are switching to all-digital - because it’s better for them - meaning they’ll bring you a digital box.If they do go all-digital, each TV in the house will need its own box.Will that cost you more? It depends on what level of service you take. The basic analog and digital packages cost the same right now. But let’s be realistic: How often do changes not end up costing more?-VCRsIf the VCR just sits there and plays tapes of movies that your kids watch 10 times a week, you don’t need to bother with anything.If you get your TV from an antenna and record with your VCR, you’ll need a converter box leading into the VCR, but you shouldn’t need another box for your TV, in most cases.However, if you have separate antenna feeds into your VCR and TV - this would mean you can watch one channel and record another %26#150; both the TV and VCR will need boxes.-TiVoIf you have TiVo hooked to an analog antenna, it will depend on the age of your box. Many newer TiVos have digital receivers and don’t need converter boxes. Check your manual or your supplier.-Portable TVsSome newer models have digital receivers built in, and the manual should tell you. But many small TVs are still analog, and that means you’ll need a converter box.However, the converters won’t have their own power, or run on batteries, so you’ll likely only be able to use the little portable if you can plug it, and the box, into an outlet somewhere.For more info on the conversion, check the FCC Web site, www.dtv.gov, or call (888)225-5322.To order converter box coupons, or to get more information about them, go to www.dtv2009.gov or call (888)388-2009, or write TV Converter Box Coupon Program, P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000.—And now, some actual television.Tuesday at 10 p.m.EST, NBC starts a new series, “quarterlife,” that’s the first official Internet-to-network drama. Actually, it’s a TV-to-Internet-to-TV drama, because the producers first tried to sell it to the networks.The show launched online in November, then NBC picked it up, and the network swears it had nothing do to with the fact writers were on strike at the time. It’s still all available in 30 eight-minute segments on www.quarterlife.com.All around, it would be a cool little development for TV - if the show were better. That’s both a disappointment and a surprise.That’s because “quarterlife” comes from accomplished producers Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, who created the brilliant teen drama “My So-Called Life” and the dead-on series “thirtysomething.” They clearly like to examine the little details of life, as well as to put the titles of their shows in lower case.This one splits in the middle on age. It’s about a bunch of mid-20-year-olds, who are, of course, trying to find themselves. The irony and intelligence are admirable, but “quarterlife” is missing the usual graceful touch. Instead of reflective, everyone just sounds whiney and self-involved, and it’s hard to stay with them long enough to get to like anyone.
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