Sneaky!
Ooh ooh ooh — sneaky!
There is a TV spot running now to “help” consumers. It’s paid for by the Cable Television industry. It tells consumers that beginning 17 February 2009, all broadcast stations will stop broadcasting in analog, and only broadcast in digital. It tells the viewer that all televisions hooked up to cable service will continue to work. In a slightly-overplayed “reasonable” tone, it tells the viewer that “If you receive your television through an antenna, your television can still work with a converter box.” It directs you to dtv2009.gov, and tells you you can “apply for a coupon” there. Then the guy folds his arms, looks smug, and the cable logo comes out.
A bit more background: the man is walking across salt flats as he speaks. He passes a 1960s furniture-size television with a flickering picture that finally resolves.
Implied: Broadcast TV is a barren landscape
Implied: Broadcast TV is antiquated
Implied: Broadcast TV flickers
Implied: Satellite won’t work either
Implied: Applying for the coupons is a government program, and as much of a hassle as going to the DMV
Implied: You will still have to buy something, it will just be a little cheaper with the coupon
OK, the facts. Yes, on 17 February 2009, analog TVs will not be able to receive broadcasts without the intercession of a converter box. But:
Satellite works just as well as Cable during the transition
The coupon application process is simple, and can be accessed online, by phone, or by mail
The coupons are for $40 apiece, and every household is entitled to two for free
Converter boxes are expected to cost no more than $50, and I’d bet anyone that ten dollar difference that Walmart will have one for $39.99 before the switchover date
This is, essentially, a push-poll in television advertising format. It pretends to be benign or even helpful, while in fact it is intensely devious. Shame on the cable industry, preying upon one of the least-empowered sections of society: those who generally cannot reasonably afford cable or satellite television.
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February 1st, 2008 at 10:58 am
You make it sound like you didn’t realize that cable companies are teeming with conniving, soulless bastards.
February 1st, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Jaimee’s father finally decided to get rid of his DSL, because he didn’t really need his internet service to be all that fast, and he didn’t like the expense of it. Jaimee thought that this was strange, so she asked him what he was paying. Turns out, he was paying $70 a month. That was $70, for JUST his DSL. When Jaimee told him that this was ridiculous, he said that he didn’t think that he could get it for less, because they were giving him the “Senior Discount”.
Talk about preying on the ignorance of the group most likely to be hoodwinked by underhanded sales tactics.
February 1st, 2008 at 6:48 pm