Eight out of 10 Households Ready for DTV
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: Divital, TV, Switch | Themes: Digital Entertainment
Despite what many officials proclaim, a recent poll suggests that 82 of percent broadcast-only households are actually ready for DTV.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) recently conducted a poll, surveying 2,650 households during January 2 to 6. The results indicated that more than eight out of 10 American households - those that would be affected the most from the switchover to digital television (DTV) - have actually taken the steps to prepare for the June 12 transition. According to the NAB, those households prepared themselves by learning more about the options in getting DTV, applying for a converter box coupon, or completing the upgrade to DTV.
As of last week, federal law now dictates that all full-power television stations must switch to all-digital broadcasting by June 12, 2009. Consumers who receive free over-the-air signals on analog TV sets must upgrade to DTV with a converter box, digital TV set or pay TV subscription such as DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and so on. To ensure that no consumer loses access to free broadcast television due to a lack of information about the transition, the NAB kicked off a massive DTV education campaign valued at more than $1 billion; the current survey was part of that campaign.
"We are pleased to see that broadcasters’ wide-reaching education efforts have penetrated beyond general awareness and compelled Americans to act," said Jonathan Collegio, NAB vice president for the DTV transition.
Naturally, the NAB didn't offer any statistics as to what households were actually polled. Did they contact households in rural areas? Did they contact those who couldn't afford the converter boxes or are considered minority Americans? What about the elderly? These are the people that politicians worry about, fearing that once the analog signals switch off, their screens will grow dark as well. Without free over-the-air reception, those households will likely be without public announcements and weather alerts.
Still, the NAB insists that 97 percent of all households are actually aware of the DTV transition nationally (with the margin of sampling error at +/- 2 percent). However, the biggest news stemming from the research is that, despite knowing TV is indeed switching to digital and that the transition will impact over-the-air signals, the households polled are also able to identify the correct transition date, defeating all pre-conceived notions of mass confusion.
“These findings make clear that there is universal awareness of the DTV transition, with most Americans having gotten the message, understanding what they need to do and taking steps to ensure their homes are ready,” Seth Geiger, president of SmithGeiger LLC, which conducted the poll.
The American population - for the most part - is ready for DTV according to the NAB poll. The U.S. government, on the other hand, apparently is not, as seen in recent months.
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How is it possible that 5% (3% ± 2%) of people don't know about the DTV transition? I don't think those people watch enough television to care in the first place.
I think the DTV transition delay is more pork politics than actual legitimate concern about people being prepared for the transition. I would bet that on average, ordinary Americans understand the DTV switch better than our elected officials.
its all about the ads on tv. can't sell anything if no one sees it. Thus, the wait to get more people to buy the converters to see more ads and go out and buy more stuff. (maybe in a effort to help stores that pull in people thru such ads, and helping the economy.) Just my thoughts
8 out of 10? How about 4 out of 5...
8 out of 10? How about 4 out of 5...
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa...
This is a Tom's Guide article, you know mac users can't simply fractions.
is not Simply, I think you're trying to say "Simplify"
but I do agreed, Mac users can't do shitz.
So after seeing these survey results, politicians will realize that they've done nothing but waste all of our time. But they wont care. I cant believe these type of people are running our country when they're supposed to be 'elected' officials.
No one has any idea how to run anything.
No one has any idea how to run anything.
Which is why they shouldn't be voting on who should.
ahhhh who gives a sh!t! maybe the fatasses will go outside and get some exercise when their tv stops working!
/rant off
1 Billion dollars on education of DTV? Can we stimulate the economy? YES WE CAN! Can we abuse the politics of fear (the recession) into generating massive pork spending projects under the guise of stimulus? YES WE CAN. Does the government know how to spend your money better and more efficiently then you do? YES IT DOES! Just like the song...Meet the new boss (administration)...same as the old boss (administration).
For 1 Billion (+ the money given out in coupons), the gov't may have been better off walking from house to house and personally installing the digital boxes themselves! Had they started when the transition was announced, they'd maybe even be done by now! OF course that would have involved the government actually interacting with a large segment of "bitter people clinging to their guns and religion" - scratch that, better to just drop huge payloads of cash everywhere and just assume it ends up going to the right place with noone actually exploiting the system and assume no massive inefficiencies in distributing it.
The 17% of idiots who ignored all the warnings, television ads, radio ads, and newspaper ads will STILL not be ready for the switch come June. You can bet that they will be bitching and whining in the weeks leading up to it though.
I really hope that all of the networks discontinue analog broadcasts in 9 days just like they were planning on doing.
There will be a few of those "idiots," but by and large, I think the politicians and the media grossly underestimate the public. There's a wall of converter boxes 4 1/2 feet tall right inside the front door of the Radio Shack two miles from my house. If those happen to be all sold out when "the day" arrives, I have plenty of productive things to do instead of watching TV. The way some of these politicians talk about "vulnerable" consumers, you'd think TV was more essential to live than water or air. But it's not, and there are quite a few people who've figured that out.
I really hope that all of the networks discontinue analog broadcasts in 9 days just like they were planning on doing.
If that happened, I would forgive all the networks for all the Obama-butt-kissing/Bush-bashing that's been going on despite the fact that both presidents have the same brain-damaged philosophy when it comes to economics.
What, people don't have radios anymore?