The End of The Analog Era.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

You didn't really miss anything special they talked about spending 3.4 mil on their Analog broadcast system when they launched in 94', about some of their and other networks' historic broadcasts, how to hook up converter boxes and a live feed from the Analog Shutoff party in times square. All of this followed up by watching their news correspondent push the off button on their Analog broadcaster and then static.....

[RCBH928]

What do you mean by cable?
Paid for channels here are just a card you insert in your receiver(tivo, whatever) and it would open up the channels. Hardly any extra setup.
MAYBE, you have to just change your receiver to the subscribed company's receiver .
I recall there used to be something called cable that is basically a tiny antenna you add to your roof. Is it the same thing?

I really thought analogue and antenna was dead, I thought no one used those any more.
btw, could they broadcast HD?

[Funk, E]

Cable is just what it sounds like--a physical cable that connects to your TV or to a box. A lot (most, actually) of broadband internet in the US is through cable, as is television. It's quite fast, low latency, especially on new fiber-optic cable systems.

And yeah, there is broadcast HD over here. And antennae aren't going away, per se, they're just transitioning to digital over-the-air broadcasts. The best thing about over-the-air television is that it's free--once you buy the equipment, you never have to pay anything else.

[Haoie]

Man, NZ sure is backwards compared to you guys.

Tivo is barely being introduced here.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Well the US is usually 5-10 years behind on most technological advacements due to all the 'red tape' and bureaucratic crap.

[RCBH928]

so it is just a wire that comes from the ground like electricity?
WOW
that sure is better than having multiple dishes and antennas on your tv. And it can send internet and tv signal.

[Breetai]

Hmm....Anime, Insane Game Shows, Crazy Sitcom and Drama plots that destroy your perception of reality, all in a language I can't understand.

Sounds pretty cool to me!

It sounds cool... until you live here and that's all there is on TV. Actually, I don't see too many "crazy game shows" on... but I do see a lot of BS "talento" shows. I guess they can be described as a sort of talk show host programme with a dozen retarded hosts doing stupid things and laughing at themselves. It gets old fast.

I'm a pretty big fan of Japanese culture so I feel I'd probably love it.

Come and live here. There's no way you'd say the same thing after a few years of it!

Then again I've never actually had a chance to truly see anything other than the snippets of the culture that make their way over here via TV, the internet and other mediums, so my perception of it could change after a larger amount of exposure.

Yup!

For now though I'd say I'm definitely interested in at least checking out some mainstream Japanese TV when I get the chance to; have you got any recommendations?

Yeah... don't! haha There are a lot of cute girls on TV, at least. Plus, it's slightly better than Korean TV!