In 2009, Today's TVs will be obsolete?

Factual Questions
1

I bought a new Sony VCR/DVD after my VCR died. It has a disclaimer that all TV transmission in the US will be high definition in 2009 IAW the FCC, and this product may not work properly, if at all.

What’s up with that? Is the FCC forcing out the older technology? In contrast, isn’t it the FCC that dictates how today’s telephony technology must still be compatible with “Plain Old Telephone Service”, better known as POTS?

Is 2009 the “Y2K” for conventional TVs? Will my conventional TV work at all with basic cable? What’s the scoop? - Jinx

2

You’ll need an ATSC receiver box with analogue video out, which you can hook up to your existing TV. ATSC is the name for the US digital broadcast TV standard, which is not necessarily high-definition.

Or you could watch Canadian analogue broadcasts, which also use the NTSC (US analogue TV) system, and are not scheduled to end. :slight_smile:

3

Two-week-old thread on this very subject.

4

Sice a previous thread covering this is linked to, I’ll close this one.

samclem GQ moderator