Got a letter through the post today telling us about local meetings to hear about the switchover from analog to digital TV - the move started over a year ago, and by March this year about 700 smaller broadcasters had already switched off their analog signals.
The masot chosen is a deer / stag - the antlers being the antenna. Clever huh?
Nice swimsuit too.
There's been quite a bit of fuss about it in some areas. For example, in Kamakura about 10% of residents couldn't get digital signals due to the shape of the land. Nationwide, many people can't afford either digital TVs or digital receivers.
The good news is is that digital converters that allow you to watch digital TV on old-fashioned sets are now being sold for 5,000 yen, and are being given free to people on welfare.
My personal opinion on all of this is that none of it is necessary, as a) Japanese TV is generally so appalling it makes you want to attack your sony plasma display with a samurai sword b) anything that is worth watching will be available in the rental shops soon or is already available on YouTube!
It seems the switch to digital is a global thing - how's it going down in your neck of the woods? If you're in Japan, do you think it's worth it or is this the beginning of the end of TV?
Joseph
This is a
Tokyo Live Blogger post posted from the iPhone.
You can read more by this and other live bloggers or follow them
via RSS.
