You'll Go Digital, Whether You Want To Or Not...
I'm not one for necessarily for clinging to the past regarding technology but a new report has been issued by the UK government telling us what they see as the future of communication in the UK in the next few years...if I am lucky and live long enough I may get the benefit for perhaps 10-20 years if I am lucky. Assuming that I can afford to pay for it.
We're already in the middle of a change over from analogue received television to digital across the UK(as are many other countries around the world)The USA has just had it's television signal turned off a few days ago...so unless you watch cable or satellite there, you need a converter box otherwise your tv will be rendered useless.
The report is full of spin and keeps saying that all homes will have universal access to fast Internet broadband but many still have no interest in paying for or having broadband but to pay for upgrading the system the Government is to introduce some kind of fee/levy on fixed copper phone lines of 50p per month whether you want it or not but as you pay a line rental anyhow on fixed landlines in the UK and also pay a tax to the Government on the rental of the line and calls made, this 50p fee will actually cost the consumer slightly more.
There is talk of some of the license fee paid to the public broadcaster the BBC being given to commercial broadcasters to help them continue and cover the cost of making and broadcasting local/regional news but again why should the license fee be used to help stations that are run on a commercial model and if they cannot raise the money because of a reduction in revenue from advertisers maybe they should look at whether there are too many stations for the amount of money available and even consider if they have strong enough content to attract an audience by using a subscription model like Sky(a satellite broadcaster)already has.
They are also talking about switching off AM/FM broadcasting for radio and turning it all over to DAB but already there is talk that the system we are using in the UK is out of date and other countries are using a system more advanced. Some areas of the UK have difficulties receiving AM/FM and I hate to say it but many areas are unable to receive DAB either or where they can many find the reception poor.
I know my own experience of DAB is that my radio only works in one bedroom in the house and in one location. There are so many stations on the system many are using low bit rates so quality is not as good as was promised and in some cases some stations borrow spectrum space from others....an example being that when Radio 3 has a big concert in the evening...Radio 4 can turn into mono rather than stereo and the bit rate is reduced so that Radio 3's sound improves.
Also, if AM/FM reception deteriorates, usually you can still listen to the station/programme and can hear stations out of your immediate area but if DAB goes wrong it usually sounds very bad and breaks up or is lost altogether.
What we need is the technical problems ironed out first before forcing it on the public.
Digital Britain
Digital Future
We're already in the middle of a change over from analogue received television to digital across the UK(as are many other countries around the world)The USA has just had it's television signal turned off a few days ago...so unless you watch cable or satellite there, you need a converter box otherwise your tv will be rendered useless.
The report is full of spin and keeps saying that all homes will have universal access to fast Internet broadband but many still have no interest in paying for or having broadband but to pay for upgrading the system the Government is to introduce some kind of fee/levy on fixed copper phone lines of 50p per month whether you want it or not but as you pay a line rental anyhow on fixed landlines in the UK and also pay a tax to the Government on the rental of the line and calls made, this 50p fee will actually cost the consumer slightly more.
There is talk of some of the license fee paid to the public broadcaster the BBC being given to commercial broadcasters to help them continue and cover the cost of making and broadcasting local/regional news but again why should the license fee be used to help stations that are run on a commercial model and if they cannot raise the money because of a reduction in revenue from advertisers maybe they should look at whether there are too many stations for the amount of money available and even consider if they have strong enough content to attract an audience by using a subscription model like Sky(a satellite broadcaster)already has.
They are also talking about switching off AM/FM broadcasting for radio and turning it all over to DAB but already there is talk that the system we are using in the UK is out of date and other countries are using a system more advanced. Some areas of the UK have difficulties receiving AM/FM and I hate to say it but many areas are unable to receive DAB either or where they can many find the reception poor.
I know my own experience of DAB is that my radio only works in one bedroom in the house and in one location. There are so many stations on the system many are using low bit rates so quality is not as good as was promised and in some cases some stations borrow spectrum space from others....an example being that when Radio 3 has a big concert in the evening...Radio 4 can turn into mono rather than stereo and the bit rate is reduced so that Radio 3's sound improves.
Also, if AM/FM reception deteriorates, usually you can still listen to the station/programme and can hear stations out of your immediate area but if DAB goes wrong it usually sounds very bad and breaks up or is lost altogether.
What we need is the technical problems ironed out first before forcing it on the public.
Digital Britain
Digital Future
posted by The Great Gildersleeve | 5:01 pm
4 Comments:
"What we need is the technical problems ironed out first before forcing it on the public. "
For God's sake Gildy...how can you come out with such...with such sensible things! Far better to dive in, break something, pay triple what is necessary, cause stress and the rest of what usaully transpires...
Well of course, what you say is right Span...as often I could say that you also talk a lot of sense too. ;-)
Having read and heard a lot of what is said by the media and in particular the commercial broadcasting sector, they have been very much pushing for AM/FM to be closed for ages so you have to ask how much pressure is being put on broadcasting authorities.
I am sure a similar situation will happen across Europe. Only they have embraced as far as I know a more technically superior version of digital radio.
it's happening here...end of this month re TVs.
A few weeks ago, tv in the US switched over to digital after a few delays. I gave up on tv long ago, so it doesn't really concern me. :)
I mainly listen to satellite radio, but I hope the govt doesn't mess around with AM/FM. Your experiences in the UK don't give me much confidence in digital radio.
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