Free DTV: Why Mess With An HDTV Antenna? | The Communication Blog

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Free DTV: Why Mess With An HDTV Antenna?

By Jeff Smith

Are HDTV antennas really worth the effort these days? Everyone's hooked up with satellite or digital cable, so why bother with antennas? Well... Because there are still people broadcasting on the airwaves, that's why! Here are just a few reasons to bother with the ol' bunny ears.

Local Programming

Yes, you get hundreds of channels for one low price with satellite and cable, but you know what you don't get? Local network stations, local shows, local cable access stuff. There is simply a LOT of stuff you miss out on if all you have is cable or satellite. Maybe not quite as much as you GET, but a lot, nonetheless. You don't get the local news, you don't get the local anything. More and more, the western world is becoming homogenized. We all eat at the same restaurants from London to California, we all wear the same clothes, visit the same bookstores, and now, we're even watching the same TV across the country. That local flavor is really important, though. It's why we take pride in our hometowns, be it the great mom and pop steak joint down the street, or the fact that you see the weatherman at the grocery store now and then.

It's Totally Free

After you buy the antenna, which is, honestly, dirt cheap, you get to watch a lot of great television absolutely free. It's nice to have satellite and digital cable for all those channels that aren't being broadcast for free, too, of course, but don't pay extra for them to show you the stuff that you could get without paying a single dime. Seriously, these networks and stations put this stuff out for free, so it's not as if you're stealing it. They WANT you to watch this stuff without paying anything! Their advertising sponsors take care of the bills.

Really, we may as well have made this the only argument: Free entertainment. We're in the middle of a recession, so why turn down something that's free?

You Stay On Top of Events

You can watch the late show or the local news on the internet for free, sure... Twenty four hours after it airs, that is. By then, you're already in the dark when everyone at work is talking about the armed robbery that happened downtown or the jokes on last night's opening monologue. Why watch the news a day after it's relevant?

It's Nostalgic

There's something nice and old fashioned about plucking free entertainment out of thin air with a little metal rod. Really, it brings to mind memories of growing up. Okay, maybe it takes a certain kind of tech geek to really get a kick out of this, but it IS fun.

On the one hand, it's great having hundreds of channels, it's great being able to check mark your favorite shows, Tivo that movie you've been meaning to see and ordering pay per view with the click of a button. It's great having more than a dozen channels and not having to set up an elaborate series of wires to pick them up, but... There's a certain charm in getting free television from thin air.

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