Originally published February 27 2005
The switch to a digital television signal is a prime opportunity to stop watching television, according to one writer
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
As Ron Kaufman of TurnOffYourTV.com points out, the government's decision to change television from an analog signal to a digital, high-definition signal bodes ill both for the economy and the environment. With expensive new equipment to buy and millions of obsolete TVs to throw away, HDTV is useless. Ron Kaufman says that the answer is to simply use your old television to watch movies and stop watching bad television shows.
On December 31, 2006, the analog television signal that TV stations have used for more than 60 years will be turned off.
Consumers will have a choice in 2006: Permanently unplug their television and embrace the world of reality around them -- or -- Spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to upgrade to digital television (DTV).
The whole point of DTV and HDTV (high definition television) is to offer a clearer TV signal -- at a price.
And the price will be steep in two ways: First, the actual cost to the consumer for the new DTV products.
And second, the cost to the environment as thousands of perfectly useable televisions are rendered useless and placed in trash heaps.
The point of the TurnOffYourTV.com web site is for people to unplug from the tube, get rid of their television sets and replace them with books, exercise and rewarding interpersonal activities -- not to trash the television and replace it with a more expensive one.
According to HDTV industry cheerleader Consumer Electronics Association, the move to digital television will bring lots of new revenue to the TV industry.
Sony, Mitsubishi, RCA, and GE will make lots of money.
Even if someone buys an $8,000 50-inch high-definition plasma monitor it will probably only be "HD-Ready," which means additional money must be spent for a set-top box to receive local HD broadcasts.
Digital conversion boxes for HD-Ready and analog TV sets in addition to Direct TV or cable to receive clear digital signals equal a lot of money spent to watch "Wheel of Fortune."
The advantages of going digital are a higher screen resolution (greater detail), better color, clearer reception, a wide screen picture and multichannel Dolby Digital surround sound (for which you need expensive upgraded sound equipment).
DTV offers nothing the consumer cannot already get -- without the added expense of more TV equipment.
This includes the ability to receive broadcast signals.
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