 "Photo: Osazuwa Okundaye")
Starting June 12, television will stop transmitting in analog and switch to digital broadcast television. Digital technology will provide improved picture quality and sound, but for those hooked up to the basic channels through rabbit ears, the television may become just a box.
Certainly there are many satellite and cable providers to choose from, but when facing the decision of how many channels to order, take into account the lack of quality programming provided by many of the premium channels. Cable and satellite television has become affordable and practical, but at a cost to niche and specialty channels. These channels have abandoned the shows that used to appeal to a larger audience.
It is no secret that MTV has become one of the biggest disappointments to music lovers, no longer providing the most popular music videos. Instead, MTV devotes its budget to kidnapping viewers and physically forcing them to watch horrific shows like "The Hills" and "Paris Hilton's New BFF" in a torturous quest for ratings. VH1 has started to ignore its intended purpose in a similar fashion.
"I used to watch VH1 back when they played music or had an interesting Top 100 countdown," said Tiffany Mcelmurry, a senior psychology major. "Now all that's ever on is 'Rock of Love' or 'Tool Academy,' shows whose only purpose seems to be giving 'The Soup' something to make fun of every week."
Less popular channels have been patterned after music stations, substituting programs geared toward namesakes for guaranteed ratings. The History Channel is transitioning away from hour-long specials about Hitler's moustache stylist to reality shows based on the unhistorical lives of ice road truckers and axe-men. American Movie Classic has redefined its genre to include great cinematic masterpieces such as "Terminator 3" and "Mystery Men."
Having the premium cable package no longer offers quality entertainment. The shows available through former niche networks offer the same types of programs available through the major networks. When deciding whether to upgrade cable providers, take into account the documentaries, classic movies and music videos that were formerly marketed to customers and will no longer be available.
"I have never bothered to hook up anything other than basic cable," said Geren Sims, a sophomore general studies major. "I just don't see the point. Sports and the better sitcoms come on the major stations anyway. There is no reason to pay $30 or $40 for channels I'll never even look at."
According to the Federal Communications Commission, 70 percent of U.S. households subscribe to an extended television provider. As many make the switch from analog to a service provider by June, channels that used to appeal to a particular group will attempt to offer programs for a more mainstream audience.
Already, top dollar spin-off channels have popped up to take the reigns of predecessors. Even MTV2 and the History Channel International attempted to appeal to the masses. As the numbers subscribing to the service continue to grow, these stations will resemble the major networks.
Television has long been the dominant source of America's entertainment. Television is often entertaining, easy to watch and no longer stops providing programming at the unreasonable hour of midnight. Unfortunately, everyone has at one point or another found themselves watching inferior shows simply because there is nothing else on. The solution to the lack of quality programming on extended channels is to switch off the box and avoid shelling out the big bucks for extended cable. The alternative is a History Channel where a Hitler impersonator with gold teeth and a speech impediment tries to find a new Eva Braun in "Reich of Love."
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