T.V. Or S’not T.V., That’s The Quandry

After working in the entertainment industry for almost 30 years, I thought that I had reached the point where I could figure out most of the back story on why things happen. Usually I just follow the money, it’s seldom been wrong.

Those days are, it seem, certainly over.

First, other than the fact that someone, somewhere, is making some serious big money off of it, why is the government (at the federal level) taking such a hard line on killing off non hi-def t.v.? It seems that in a year or two televisions that don’t have a built in or added on converter will not be able to receive programs over the air. Not every one chooses to pay for cable or satellite service, I watch so little on t.v. now that it would be pissing good money away.

Will seeing it in high definition make “The View” a show I could watch?

Not likely.

Rant, part II…..

Other than the market for very long form video products like “The Very Best Of…” or “……., Season #….” DVDs, what’s behind the big war that’s going on over the hype of one form of DVD vs another (non compatible) type? Blu-ray sounds like it might make an odd title for some early Ray Charles work, and HD DVD could be interesting to find spelled out in a bowl of alphabet soup, but why must we go through a modern version of the VHS / BETA wars again? Does anyone think that Joe SixPack can see the difference between either format or what we are using now? Better sound? Maybe your dog can hear the difference, but you never will. This is especially true after a few years of listening to your iPod with it cranked up to max.

Years ago in the music world, I bought The Doors first album on a vinyl disc, a cassette, and on a CD. Had it been released a few years earlier, I’d most likely have an 8-track version as well. As of today, I can still play the CD version, but sadly my last 33 1/3 – 45 – 78 rpm type of turn table, and my divorce gift to myself shelf top cassette player are nothing but memories now. Don’t even ask about that 8-track, which replaced my original 4-track.
In the same mode, must we now look forward to replacing our old VHS and DVD copies of films we liked over the years that will not work on our shiny new upgraded video gear, or keep an old-school player (hidden where company can’t see it) around to re-live the experience we don’t want to re-purchase?

I guess such gear could be stored in the garage next to my dad’s old Super-8 projector, just in front of my Kaypro II.

I’m sure I have some interesting memories tucked away on some of those old 5″ discs, made back when they really were “floppy”, but there’s no way to access them now. Unless maybe you have a CPM copy of WordStar sitting around somewhere.

Again, not likely.

Actually, N.F.W.

Your thoughts on these or any other subjects are always welcome.

Of course, that’s only if I’m having a good day. It could happen…….

N.B., The ownership of any and all photos, opinions, and/ or quotes above (including those of my own) belong to the material’s creator(s). Credit is given when it’s known, but as everyone knows, success usually has a million parents and failure is an orphan.

Feel free to ignore any ads that are shown below, I don’t get to choose them and (sadly) I don’t make a penny off any of them, so in the holy name of capitalism I rebuke and don’t endorse or support any of them, unless of course they’re made of funny stuff…..  

P.S., check back for occasional updates and rewrites….

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