South Florida Sun-Sentinel Daniel Vasquez column: Storm warning over digital TV switchover

Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jul. 19--For South Floridians, a battery-operated TV is a must-have for home hurricane emergency kits. And based on what I'm hearing from readers in Palm Beach and Broward counties, many are upset to learn that most of these mini-TVs will be rendered virtually obsolete in about seven months, when television signals turn from analog to digital. That means no access to local and national TV coverage of hurricanes -- before, during or after -- in the event Florida Power & Light service is knocked out by the weather. It's one of the big downsides to the DTV revolution. There are alternatives, but they're complicated and may require expensive add-ons. And the cost for new digital battery-operated TVs are a big hit to anyone's budget, starting at $200. "Joe Public is being thrown back into the dark ages... [read full story]