No More TV

I tried to tune in the Wimbledon final just now. Alas, there is no longer even the fuzzy analog signal I had relied on for my infrequent t.v. viewing of live sports.

The controversy over the switch to digital has been covered enough. On the one hand I have to agree it is hard to gather much sympathy for television in general. On the other hand, the cynic in me is sure the switch is about selling new digital televisions. I've watched the digital signal at my in-laws for the past year and I can't say I really think the picture is much better. Clearer, maybe, but the screen looks strangely compressed and unnatural. Also, the signal is subject to that strange digital pixillation problem. Then again, I'm a guy who heard CD's back in the 80's and couldn't get past the strange compressive quality of the sound. I still have my old record albums and cassette tapes and, although CD's have their place in my collection, they did not replace the old stuff (as the cynic is sure was the intent). Generally speaking, I still think analog is superior. I think the Impressionists got it right when they showed most of life as viewed from the periphery.

I will miss television, much like I would miss radio. It is an option I liked to have when I want to remotely watch events. We have a cart which we wheel away when the t.v. is not in use. It's a simple setup and the lack of a t.v. removes its focus from our living room. I hate to visit friends and see the most social room in the house is directed, not at the guests, but at the entertainment console. The switch to digital meant we needed another box to add to the dvd/video boxes that already overburden the bottom rung of our t.v. cart. I just can't be bothered to add more clutter. So now we just won't have t.v.