Half of America not yet ready to switch to digital
[Posted by Dave Haber on Wednesday, 06/11/08 4:26 pm] [Full Blog] [Related Posts] [Tweet This]According to a new report released yesterday by the government, nearly half of TV owners in the U.S. are not ready to switch to the new digital TV broadcasts.
On February 17, 2009, full-power TV stations in the US are required to stop all analog TV broadcasts. But there are still 70 million TV sets in the US who's only connection to a signal is an analog antenna. Without a converter box, these viewers will not be able to get the new digital signals.
The new reports state that up to 50% of the TV owners in the US have not yet purchased a converter box, or a newer, digital TV.
Is it likely the majority of the 35 million TV viewers have not yet done so will get a new TV or a converter box in the next eight months? What will happen when all these people lose the ability to watch TV? What will happen to the TV stations with the loss of all those viewers?
I don't know the answer to these questions, but I think that February 17 is going to a very interesting day, a day long remembered. I don't think analog TV is going to "go quietly".
(Info thanks to ChattaBox.com.)
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