Robert Scoble sounds a little confused about the difference between digital and high-definition TV and what implications it will have on the analog cut-off in 2009, but over-the-air analog broadcasts will indeed end soon. I don’t know if Robert is familiar with the extensive debating that occurred regarding a hard cut-off date but we now have one and we should stick to it.
As his commenters point out, those who want to continue receiving over-the-air signals with their old TVs will continue to be able to do so with a subsidized converter box. That said, I also think Robert underestimates how quickly prices will come down on LCD televisions by 2009. Hey, that TV is going to die some day.
Ultimately, though, analog TV will live on for many years via analog cable, which still makes up a high percentage of cable subscriptions.