Telecommunications Industry News
Over 20 Million Americans Remain Unprepared for Digital TV Transition
6:15 am on October 20, 2008 | Category: Telecom Services, Television
Four months ahead of a government-mandated conversion to all-digital TV broadcasting in the United States, upwards of 9 million households (representing some 8% of TV viewers) remain completely unprepared for the transition, while another 12.6 million have at least one TV set that will not work after the change takes place.
Customers who receive free analog TV via an antenna must either switch to pay-TV or purchase a $60 converter box by February 17, 2009, or lose access to home television service. The federal government is offering $40 coupons towards the purchase of a digital converter box.
The fact that millions of Americans have not yet taken advantage of the offer could potentially be bad news for broadcasters and advertisers, who could see their viewing audience decline substantially. It represents an opportunity, however, for cable, satellite, and fiber-optic television providers, which are constantly trying to expand their respective customer bases.
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Published by TeleClick Enterprises
Edited by Jeremy Maddock
