RIP analog broadcasting

June 12th has finally arrived---the date that, after various delays, converter-box coupon programs, etc., the analog system of broadcasting that's been in use in the United States since TV's earliest days will finally be discontinued for full-strength stations. Yep, truly the end of an era, and all that.

Of course, I'd assume readers of this blog (the ones living in the US and who own TV sets) are all set for the switch, as is myself (via me having cable---my TV set is a five-year-old 20" CRT set with mono-sound, bought at Wal-mart for $100 shortly after I moved to Milwaukee). Though here in Milwaukee, the CBS affiliate is taking the interesting route of simulcasting its channel on a low-power analog station it owns for those who won't/haven't made the analog-to-digital switch; wonder how many other stations plan on doing such, since low-power analog stations don't have to sign off today (or at any definite future point currently).

Granted, I expect some confusion over the next few days, though imagine less confusion than there would've been if they'd left the switch date back in February (despite the complaints from the Slashdot libertarian-peanut-gallery types). That, and I do think the whole switch could've been pulled off/planned/sold to the public much better. I wonder if timing our switch with our Canadian neighbors might've been worthwhile (as it stands, Canada switches to all-digital in 2011, two years from now---should make for an interesting over-the-air situation along the US-Canadian border for the next few years...). Then again, Mexico doesn't plan to shut off analog for another 10+ years or so...

There'll be plenty of special one-time signoffs in honor of the analog shutdown by some stations. Plenty of them no doubt will be posted to YouTube.

Finally, for those who want to keep analog going, there's always this option:

Mother Goose and Grimm, 2/20/09, (c) Mike Peters