New digital TV switchover deadline: 2009

Congress has approved a bill that sets 2009 as the new deadline for the final switch to digital TV. At this time, all American TVs must be able to receive a digital signal and the major broadcast networks (NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, UPN, WB) will have to broadcast 100% of programming in digital form. This will free up a large amount of radio spectrum for emergency broadcasts and bring in hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue into the government.

I have still not decided whether I like the deadline or not. While I love my HD, the networks this year have done a great job converting programs over (on their own). Now we need the cable channels to start broadcasting HD.

Read [C-net News]