Japan launches digital broadcasting

[Big Booger]

Digital broadcasting was launched in Japan Monday -- a step the government is hoping will provide a much-needed boost to the country's laggard economy.



The Japanese government is determined to make digital broadcast, which can deliver vivid, theater-like pictures to television screens, the nation's standard. It is vowing to make it available nationwide by the end of 2006.

Standing atop a stage framed by giant television screens, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi led a countdown at a kickoff ceremony that was broadcast live by major television networks across the country.

"As we mark 50 years since the start of analog television broadcasting in 1953, I believe we are at a historic moment as television evolves one step further," Koizumi said. "Congratulations!"

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/12/01/japan.digital.tv.ap/index.html

[Caustic Saint]

I've always thought the biggest problem with television wasn't the quality of the picture, but the quality of the programming.

Any word on when people are going to start working on that?

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

Is not hdtv not digital and ist been around in japan for 5 years

[Big Booger]

I've always thought the biggest problem with television wasn't the quality of the picture, but the quality of the programming.

Any word on when people are going to start working on that?

Alas, your request could not compute:
Syntax error line 1, usr error, quality=Japan;invalid.

[Steve Bildermann]

I've always thought the biggest problem with television wasn't the quality of the picture, but the quality of the programming.

Any word on when people are going to start working on that?

Yes, I agree with you when it comes to the regular analog channels. It's food, singing, panel shows and dramas all the way. I stopped watching years ago.

However I have to disagree when it comes to NHK 's BS channels. They are top-notch. They have high quality in depth interviews, long and detailed news analysis and some continuing education programming that puts the UK's open University to shame. I switched over to digital yesterday and it's very cool to click on the DATA button during BS programming and get oodles of background info as the program progresses. The cable guy is coming on Saturday to tie in the internet connection so the data pages will have active hyperlinks. This is definitely info overload.

[Caustic Saint]

Okay, which one of you posts on Slashdot as "davejenkins?"

This still won't improve Japanese television much. All the shows come down to 4 types:

1. Simplistic travelogues to remote regions of Japan, where some little Tokyo cutiepie samples the local ramen, miso soup, and makes smirking comments about the funny accents when talking to some old man (NHK)
2. Two or three guys hanging around in some little bar, making snide comments about the girls they bring on the show, while idolizing their rice rockets (FujiTV)
3. Trivia game shows (with trivia so obscure that the shows _must_ be rigged) with the panel of stars (think matchgame 75 crossed with Jackpot)
4. Samurai weekly adventures on the level of "Gunsmoke" or "Rockford Files"

/glad I haven't invested in that plasma TV yet