Broadcast executives warn the FCC that NextGen TV encryption could turn free over-the-air TV into gambling and pay-TV platforms, with major implications for consumers.
I just went through the annoying ass process of looking for my OTA antenna for my TV for the Super Bowl because you had to pay a subscription in order to watch it anywhere else and I figured that the OTA channels would at least have it on.
In the end, I gave up trying to find a live play of it and will eventually watch the highlight reels if I even care that much.
I probably threw the antenna away because as you said, no one watches antenna TV any more.
I’ve been wanting to watch the Olympics, but have so far failed because my previous VPN + Canadian coverage strategy doesn’t work (CBC requires an account now) and I can’t find my TV remote to switch the input from my set-top box to the antenna.
That worked when TV was analog and they were running megawatt transmitters. It doesn’t do so well with the low power digital stations unless you are close to the transmitters.
If you find a replay of the whole game, don’t bother with anything but the 4th quarter. But honestly the whole thing is pretty skippable unless you’re a Seahawks fan
Also, depending on where you live its a pointless exercise. I ended up throwing mine away not because I didn’t want access to OTA television, but because I lived in a valley on the other side of mountains where all the broadcast antennae in Seattle are. So even being on the top floor of a building with my antenna as high as I could possibly mount it I still got exactly one channel total that came through and it was still glitchy a lot of the time. God the digital changeover ruined OTA broadcasts, because at least when you used to have weak signal you could tweak the antenna until the picture looked halfway decent, but no amount of tweaking fixes the digital glitching that happens from dropped packets.
Anyway, yeah, if you live in an unfortunately placed area, you need a 30 foot tall antennae pole on top of your building to even maybe have the opportunity to catch some broadcast channels. Stupid.
Well, technically. They drop out more often than not so its essentially worthless. To get decent reception, I’d need to go to a motorized high gain directional.
Its been quite a few years since OTA has been a realistic option for me, and why I have had a media server since Netflix only offered DVDs by mail.
This is almost my exact problem. I am at the bottom of the hill of my neighborhood with terrible signal. It’s bad enough that Verizon and AT&T mobile carriers do not get signal at my house. I had to spin up a guest wifi ssid for visitors to have access on their mobile phones.
I think when I tried the OTA antenna I get maybe 3 channels.
I don’t know if Verizon of AT&T offer these but T-Mobile used to have small cellular sites you could basically rent them to plug into your wired internet and it would piggyback off your internet to make a small cellular hotspot to give you good cell signal. I had one when I lived out in the boonies for a while.
EDIT: Looks like the ones T-Mobile used to offer are all End-of-Life and they don’t even want them back from customers because they were for 3G/4G and they’re moving all services to 5G.
Yea, I’m aware of those from working in telephony but cannot justify a DAS in my house, for visitors, when T-Mobile has perfect signal for us all through the house as well as the woods behind my house.
It’s just easier to have people log in to my guest wifi ssid since modern smartphones have moved to SMS/Voice allowed to go over a data network that isn’t cellular.
The best way to watch sports is to go to the arena, the second best way is to go to the pub/bar/sports cafe and watch with the neighbours. Like the old days.
Lets be honest, going to the arena sucks. Especially for a game like football where you will almost certainly be crazy far away from any action. I’ve gone to a few and outside the “it was cool to say you were there” part, I’d rather just watch it on TV. Not even taking the cost into account.
Can’t really categorically say one way is best or worst. Depends on the individual arena (location relative to you and transportation options, suitability of the arena to the sport, concession prices, concession quality, weather if the arena is open), the teams playing, the personality of the other fans near you, your own personality. It’s all good.
I just went through the annoying ass process of looking for my OTA antenna for my TV for the Super Bowl because you had to pay a subscription in order to watch it anywhere else and I figured that the OTA channels would at least have it on.
In the end, I gave up trying to find a live play of it and will eventually watch the highlight reels if I even care that much.
I probably threw the antenna away because as you said, no one watches antenna TV any more.
I’ve been wanting to watch the Olympics, but have so far failed because my previous VPN + Canadian coverage strategy doesn’t work (CBC requires an account now) and I can’t find my TV remote to switch the input from my set-top box to the antenna.
Lucky enough that a bent paperclip gets me most channels here.
That worked when TV was analog and they were running megawatt transmitters. It doesn’t do so well with the low power digital stations unless you are close to the transmitters.
I know, I am lucky enough to be close.
If you find a replay of the whole game, don’t bother with anything but the 4th quarter. But honestly the whole thing is pretty skippable unless you’re a Seahawks fan
Also, depending on where you live its a pointless exercise. I ended up throwing mine away not because I didn’t want access to OTA television, but because I lived in a valley on the other side of mountains where all the broadcast antennae in Seattle are. So even being on the top floor of a building with my antenna as high as I could possibly mount it I still got exactly one channel total that came through and it was still glitchy a lot of the time. God the digital changeover ruined OTA broadcasts, because at least when you used to have weak signal you could tweak the antenna until the picture looked halfway decent, but no amount of tweaking fixes the digital glitching that happens from dropped packets.
Anyway, yeah, if you live in an unfortunately placed area, you need a 30 foot tall antennae pole on top of your building to even maybe have the opportunity to catch some broadcast channels. Stupid.
5 channels here!
Well, technically. They drop out more often than not so its essentially worthless. To get decent reception, I’d need to go to a motorized high gain directional.
Its been quite a few years since OTA has been a realistic option for me, and why I have had a media server since Netflix only offered DVDs by mail.
This is almost my exact problem. I am at the bottom of the hill of my neighborhood with terrible signal. It’s bad enough that Verizon and AT&T mobile carriers do not get signal at my house. I had to spin up a guest wifi ssid for visitors to have access on their mobile phones.
I think when I tried the OTA antenna I get maybe 3 channels.
I don’t know if Verizon of AT&T offer these but T-Mobile used to have small cellular sites you could basically rent them to plug into your wired internet and it would piggyback off your internet to make a small cellular hotspot to give you good cell signal. I had one when I lived out in the boonies for a while.
EDIT: Looks like the ones T-Mobile used to offer are all End-of-Life and they don’t even want them back from customers because they were for 3G/4G and they’re moving all services to 5G.
https://tmo.report/2025/04/t-mobiles-infamous-cellspot-coverage-devices-are-now-end-of-life/
EDIT II: Looks like AT&T may offer some still though:
https://www.att.com/support/article/wireless/KM1452148/
Yea, I’m aware of those from working in telephony but cannot justify a DAS in my house, for visitors, when T-Mobile has perfect signal for us all through the house as well as the woods behind my house.
It’s just easier to have people log in to my guest wifi ssid since modern smartphones have moved to SMS/Voice allowed to go over a data network that isn’t cellular.
The best way to watch sports is to go to the arena, the second best way is to go to the pub/bar/sports cafe and watch with the neighbours. Like the old days.
Lets be honest, going to the arena sucks. Especially for a game like football where you will almost certainly be crazy far away from any action. I’ve gone to a few and outside the “it was cool to say you were there” part, I’d rather just watch it on TV. Not even taking the cost into account.
Can’t really categorically say one way is best or worst. Depends on the individual arena (location relative to you and transportation options, suitability of the arena to the sport, concession prices, concession quality, weather if the arena is open), the teams playing, the personality of the other fans near you, your own personality. It’s all good.