The end of free TV?

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Years ago, you bought a radio, and the airwaves were “free” to choose either AM or FM and the station you desired. Also if you wanted to see television, you bought a television, and for those living 50 or 60 miles away from the transmitting station, you needed a tower and an antenna. You then received whatever they transmitted “free” with little or no extra cost.

Over time, cable providers influenced TV owners to buy cable programming because they added a few extra programs — Cubs baseball, etc. The cost was nominal, however, over time, these costs have risen.

Presently, the few who own towers and antennas are going to find that the channel programs they receive “free” are going to be sold to cable providers. Channel 43 (Fox News) wants to sell “American Idol” and other programs to cable news to earn extra money.

Will we see the demise of “free” television? I am witnessing this phenomenon right now. I have a tower and an antenna, and I am not able to get TV stations that I was able to receive since we switched to digital. I have lost most of the channels out of Rock Island — 6 and 8, and I have problems with Channel 25 and 19 in Peoria. Some of these stations are not transmitting with enough power for me to receive their signal.

Why should Channel 8 increase its power when it is on cable? If you really want to get Channel 8, you may be compelled to purchase cable news or dish network.

After reading about the “fairness doctrine,” I can see that television stations will eventually eliminate what is considered “free” TV. Will the major networks opt for more revenue too? I feel this is the wave of the future. People in small towns will lose a lot of “free” TV.

Why is it that the income from advertising is not enough money for these stations? What can we do about it? It’s sad when “money” enters into what was considered a basic freedom. A basic freedom to choose what is sent over the airways. I feel that all this is going to end with the consumer bearing most of what we see and hear over the airways.

Carlo Olivero

Dalzell

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