Dear Readers:
It was with no small amount of nostalgia that I saw the passing of a television era on July 12th--the end of analog television. For those of us who started in the cable industry "back in the day," I offer the following commentary from Tom Crowley. Tom and I both worked with ATC (American Television & Communications) in the early 70's.
The iTV Doctor
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With the passing of analog broadcast transmission this past Friday, it occurred to me that there should be some "marking" of the event, particularly among those who were around in the early days of the world of Community Antenna Television (CATV), when systems were build as one-way pipes, intended to transmit just analog TV signals, captured from analog antennas on a hilltop (or occasionally a microwave feed)...all simply to deliver clearer pictures and less snow than was possible with analog over the air.
There aren't that many who remember what it was like to be in the cable industry in those simpler, rough-and-tumble days: the excitement, the fun, the sense of entrepreneurship and community, in a young, thriving industry, where everything was focused on the promise of tomorrow. So I am sending this greeting to a few of you with whom I had the pleasure of enjoying those days. You're the only ones who would remotely have a clue of what I'm talking about anyway.
Here's to rabbit ears and aluminum foil, ungrounded roof antennas, a world of three networks, a PBS affiliate and maybe an independent from a nearby city, when the promise of more channels with fewer ghosts was all you needed to be a success. May analog rest in peace. Long live digital.
Tom Crowley
Founder and President
WarHorse Capital/TAC Enterprises
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The iTV Doctor is Rick Howe, who provides interactive television consulting services to programmers and advertisers. He is the recipient of a CTAM Tami Award for retention marketing and this year was nominated to Cable Pioneers. He is also the co-author of a patent for the use of multiscreen mosaics in EPG's. Endorsed by top cable and satellite distributors, "Dr" Howe still makes house calls, and the first visit is always free. His services include product development, distribution strategy and the development of low-cost interactive applications for rapid deployment across all platforms. Have a question for the iTV Doctor? Email him at itvdoctor@itvt.com
Comments
There was so much Hoopla about the digital era and the "transition" that the industry did forget to say a proper goodbye. I think I will keep my rabbit ears antenna with tin foil wrapping just for nostalgia sake. : ) and : ( at the same time when an era passes.