More than 13 million Americans unprepared for digital switch

[Brent]

More than 13 million households are unprepared for the TV industry's historical transition to digital broadcasting a year from now on Feb. 17, 2009. According to Nielsen data released Friday, the 13 million households have TV sets that can only receive analog broadcasts. Another 6 million households have at least one TV set that will no longer work after the big switch.

If the switch was today, 10.1 percent of households would find themselves staring at a snowy screen; 16.8 percent would have at least one analog TV set that wouldn't work.

Between now and then, consumers have several choices: purchase a new digital set, purchase a converter box for the old set or subscribe to a subscription TV service.

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent ... 1003711300

NEW YORK -- NBC has asked Nielsen Media Research to consider moving next year's February sweep up a few weeks to avoid a potential disruption from the switch to digital television, set for Feb. 17, 2009.

ABC, CBS and Fox have not asked Nielsen to consider such a shift, but most are said to be in favor of the move. NBC first raised the possibility in December before the holidays, and the issue is expected to be discussed at next week's client meetings held by Nielsen Media Research.

NBC is suggesting starting the February 2009 sweep on Jan. 15 and ending it Feb. 14, three days before the digital transition. While sweeps are routinely moved back-and-forth by a few days to avoid Thanksgiving or daylight savings time changes, such a major shift by two weeks would be unprecedented. The only time Nielsen has canceled a sweep was in the New Orleans market where audience measurement was suspended in the months after Hurricane Katrina.

After years of delays, the federal government is requiring broadcasters to cut off the analog signal and require everyone to use a digital set or converter to watch TV.

NBC Universal research chief Alan Wurtzel said he's concerned that the digital transition is to take effect in the middle of the February sweep. "From the measurement standpoint, there's clearly going to be a little hiccup in the middle of February when that transition occurs," Wurtzel said.

Estimates of the "hiccup" effect vary, with broadcasters saying they will do everything they can to make sure that millions of Americans who now depend on the over-the-air analog signal will make the jump to digital. It's a measurement issue because it isn't clear whether Nielsen will be able to install digital converters in all of its sample households that use analog. It also is not clear how many people either won't get the word or won't convert in time.

The networks and Nielsen say they are hopeful that everything will go smoothly and are working to make that happen. But others have said that it could disenfranchise millions of mostly lower-income viewers who either won't know that the transition is happening, delay buying a new TV or a converter or won't be able to afford it. About 13.5 million households depend solely on over-the-air TV; untold millions more have at least one set in their house that isn't connected to cable or satellite.

"We have been approached by clients asking us to consider a variety of options," Nielsen spokesman Gary Holmes said. "We don't have a final decision, but we're tracking the situation closely and we want to do what's right for the entire industry."

While the importance of sweep months has declined in the past couple of years, since the introduction of Local People Meters, they still matter for local stations whose ad rates are largely determined by their ratings performance during the sweep months.

"For many affiliates and stations, February is a very important sweep," Wurtzel said. "If you were to move the sweeps up ... it would avoid the transition date."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/con ... b4d85be78f

[Rainband]

Just bought a 50inch Sony bravia HDTV a few months ago. We are ready

[Cyclenall]

I would have thought the number would be much higher then 13 million.

[angelwing]

There goes the little portable I have in with my emergency supplies, got it a few years ago-flashlight, radio & tv all in one, sigh

[DanKellFla]

There goes the little portable I have in with my emergency supplies, got it a few years ago-flashlight, radio & tv all in one, sigh

HA!!! I was thinking the same thing. I got a small portable TV for $12. Well, it becomes a big radio now. I may never have the chance to use it. But, there are converter boxes available, but those require power!!!!!

[HURAKAN]

You still have the 2008 season!!!

[Coredesat]

I have a Sanyo SDTV with HD capability, so I'm ready for the changeover.

[DanKellFla]

I have a Sanyo SDTV with HD capability, so I'm ready for the changeover.

In that case, you have a HDTV that is receiving a SD signal. Otherwise, you have a DTV ready TV, which means that it can receive a digital signal and display it in SD.
In either case, get an antenna and try to get the digital signal. The over the air signal will be great if you can receive it. My TV is HD, but the cable signal I get is SD. But the OTA signal is true HD and looks amazing, if I get it.

[Coredesat]

How much do HD antennas tend to run?

[lurkey]

T-minus one year till the US analog shutoff: are you ready?

[DanKellFla]

How much do HD antennas tend to run?

You DON'T need a special HD Antenna. Any antenna will do. $30 at Radio Shack will go a long way if you live in a populated area with a strong signal. Check http://www.antennaweb.org
The HD carrier wave is analog. The signal it carries is digital. If you have an antenna on your house from pre-cable days, that will work just fine.

[lurkey]

No more Analog Cell Phone Service as of Monday Feb 18 2008

washingtonpost.com — The biggest U.S. mobile operators, AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless, will finally close down their analog networks on Monday. At the same time, AT&T will turn off its first digital network, which uses TDMA technology. (Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA don't have analog networks.) Most rural operators also plan on shutting down their AMPS networks.