[/floatl]Yomiuri: Big spending push eyed for digital TV / Cash for tech shift meant to help economyThe government and the ruling coalition have begun studying a plan to include in their extra economic stimulus package comprehensive measures to facilitate a full transition to terrestrial digital TV broadcasting. Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said Monday the government plans to consider installing terrestrial digital TVs at all public facilities, including schools. New Komeito, the Liberal Democratic Party's junior coalition partner, also announced a 1 trillion yen plan that will center on a measure to buy old analog TV sets from their owners for 20,000 yen each...Under New Komeito's plan, the government would designate retail shops to pay 20,000 yen to customers who trade in their old analog TV sets and purchase new TVs capable of receiving terrestrial digital broadcasting. It also will cover recycling fees. The government and the ruling parties plan to include about 480 billion yen in a supplementary budget for fiscal 2009 and take up to 20 million analog TV sets by March 2010...Intended for general households, the measure to buy analog TVs is expected to encourage people to switch to digital TVs. However, the government is likely to face issues, such as inequality between those who already have purchased digital TVs and those who will take advantage of the measure, and how to secure funds for the measure. Some government officials have been cautious about the plan, according to sources. The government therefore may have difficulties in implementing the plan. ...more...
Quite a few FGs here on the forum like myself have prepared ahead and bought a digital TV. Hell, I have already screwed around trying to replace my antenna (until I found out that Tokyu Cable will install free basic cable, digital Ch1-12, to any multi-family building in their service areas). Arggg.
