Topic: Get your TV converter box coupons

[idolminds]

Link

If, like me, you're too broke to buy a HDTV but don't want to stop watching TV when they switch over to HD in 2009, you can buy a converter box and keep using your old TV. Since the government is forcing the switchover (to get back the TV spectrum), the are offering coupons on the converter boxes. Get $40 off/back.

[Pugnate]

I know they are making it mandatory, but shouldn't they subsidize those TVs?

[idolminds]

Yes, but they went the cheaper route. Its the government, thats what they do.

The box will convert the HD signal to something you can watch on your old TV and the gov only has to give back $40 per household (well, $80 if you get 2 coupons, the limit). If they had to reimburse people for $1,000 TVs...well, that was never going to happen.

[Cobra951]

This should not be a problem if you get your TV via cable or satellite.  Your box already converts to something you can use on the old standards (NTSC here).  You only need this if you watch local TV broadcasts through an antenna.

[idolminds]

Correct. Like me.

[TheOtherBelmont]

Link

If, like me, you're too broke to buy a HDTV but don't want to stop watching TV when they switch over to HD in 2009, you can buy a converter box and keep using your old TV. Since the government is forcing the switchover (to get back the TV spectrum), the are offering coupons on the converter boxes. Get $40 off/back.

It's not HD, its digital, two totally different things.  Most TVs built within the last few years have some sort of built in digital tuner.  The only people that are really going to be affected are people who use antenna only(like Cobra said) and have analog only TVs.

[Cobra951]

My brother sent me a link to a completely unrelated local story, where I found a countdown timer to the switch over to DTV exclusively.  Here's the informative page.