Scare tactics

kvbcplug.JPG

Because this is the television industry's idea of fun, Las Vegas' KVBC decided to show viewers what it'll be like on Feb. 17, 2009, the veritable Y2K of the decade, when broadcasters follow FCC mandate and eliminate analog broadcasts. So for each of the channel's seven daily newscasts, they "stopped feeding its normal programming into its studio-to-transmitter link and instead ran a brief clip of simulated static," because THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE TV TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU. "The simulated blackouts, which included footage of an actual cable being pulled, began with Friday's 5 a.m. newscast. KVBC anchors explained to viewers that those who could still see them after they "pulled the plug" have nothing to worry about come February 2009—those who got only white snow, however, need to act now to make their sets DTV-ready."

What did it look like?

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May 5, 2008 · Link · 4 Responses