The Refinishing Touch Blog

This past June, Americans saw the end of analog television broadcasts and the transition to strictly digital TV. While that transition was lengthy and difficult, it didn’t apply to the millions of cable subscribers that are just now undergoing the same transition that forces them to go digital. Cable companies have begun the switch that allows them to provide far more channels, both high-definition and standard-definition, than with analog, however this switch may not be so beneficial for consumers.

The problems lie in the technology that makes going digital a no-brainer for cable operators but brings problems to cable subscribers. The three technologies that companies are using, quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), CableCard, and “tru2way,” have provided confusing and complicated systems to digital TV watchers while failing to eliminate the need for separate hardware, such as bulky cable boxes and knotting wires.

While the switch will likely benefit TV viewers in the long run, the method of transition is causing many problems for home viewers as well as many of the hospitality companies we work with. Changes in hardware alone have created problems with cable subscribers, who make up the vast majority of American television viewers, having to dispose of old cable boxes and televisions that do not support digital signals. Not only can it be costly, it poses a huge environmental dilemma when those materials end up in landfills.

Consumers should look to recycling to counteract these problems and save money. Converting old TV stands and armoires to fit new digital, high-definition televisions, like many of our clients in the hospitality industry do, can be a great way to save money, organize complicated television-cable box systems, and help prevent unnecessary waste. Additionally they should look into television recycling programs that are aiming to assist in the transition to make it as smooth as possible. While cable companies and technology are still catching up to the current demand, consumers can always find ways to do a little more to help themselves through this change.