"Local TV stations are still hurting from a 2.3% Q1 nationwide drop in advertising revenue. The drop in ad dollars could speed the stations' search for alternative revenue streams like mobile and online." The Wall Street Journal  4/25/07

"With more than 105,000 attendees, the 2008 NAB Show was one of the most successful to date."   NAB SmartBrief  4/27/08

The above recent news item excerpts are most germane to the broadcasters efforts to convert to an all-digital local broadcasting service.

a) Revenues will continue their decline under the broadcastert's current ill-defined conversion plan. The introduction of DTV/HDTV services by the broadcasters has done nothing to stimulate viewer interest in broadcast TV. Also, any move towards offering a mobile service will end up like bankrupt USDTV.  Incorporating online services must be done as prescribed by the FreeDTVPlustm plan.

b) The view that NAB 2008 was ""one of the most successful to date" has to be questioned in light of the fact that the future of broadcasting is at best doubtful and merited no discussion in any of the multitude of panel discussions.