Much of the confusion dates to federal legislation that required broadcasters to stop sending analog signals in 2009 and shift to high-definition digital transmissions. The change meant old TVs wouldnt get the broadcasts, forcing consumers to buy new televisions or converter boxes to pick up the free signals.
Scott Wills, a wireless-industry executive living in the San Francisco Bay Area, worked for over a year on the legislation that set the transition in motion. Mr. Wills discussed his work extensively with his son, who was almost a teenager at the time.
About a decade later, Mr. Wills had a hunch many people, especially young people, thought the transition simply killed TV signals, rather than made them better. He asked his son.
His answer was, Dad, you should know better than anyone that theres no broadcast TV! Mr. Wills recalls. He thought broadcast TV went away.
His son, Hunter, now 24 and living in Chicago, says he mostly watches Netflix. I had no idea, he said of broadcasts continued existence. Im still not even that familiar with the concept.
