Analog tv users, no worries.
Retailers will sell converter boxes to turn digital TV signals into analog
By Dibya Sarkar
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
12/12/2007
WASHINGTON - Best Buy Co. Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and six other retailers will sell equipment enabling owners of analog television sets to continue to view programming after the 2009 nationwide switch to digital broadcasting, the federal government said Tuesday.
Starting Jan. 1, an estimated 13 million to 21 million households that rely on an antenna to watch TV can contact the government to receive two coupons worth $40 each to buy converter boxes.
The $1.5 billion program - which is enough to fund 33.5 million coupons - ends March 31, 2009.
Retailers in mid-February will begin selling the devices, which translate the digital signal into analog. Advertisement
The other major retailers include Circuit City Stores Inc., Target Corp., Sears Holdings Corp. and its Kmart outlets and RadioShack Corp. Wal-Mart's Sam's Club stores also will sell the devices.
"Over 100 retailers have been certified, including a variety of small stores, retail chains and these very large retailers," said Meredith Baker, who is the acting administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which is overseeing the coupon program.
Several companies - including Digital Stream Technology Inc., LG Electronics Inc. and Royal Philips Electronics NV's Magnavox and Philco operations - have manufactured converter boxes that have been approved by the government.
The NTIA is expected to certify several more devices in the next few weeks.
Who needs a box?
The nation's broadcasters on Feb. 17, 2009, will be turning off their analog over-the-air broadcasts.
You will need a digital converter box if your television doesn't have a digital receiver. Most older sets only have analog signal receivers.
Cable and satellite TV users won't need to get a converter box because the service providers say they will ensure their subscribers continue to view programming after the switch.
Consumers can apply for coupons via phone at 1-888-388-2009 or via the government website - www.DTV2009.gov - starting Jan. 1
By Dibya Sarkar
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
12/12/2007
WASHINGTON - Best Buy Co. Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and six other retailers will sell equipment enabling owners of analog television sets to continue to view programming after the 2009 nationwide switch to digital broadcasting, the federal government said Tuesday.
Starting Jan. 1, an estimated 13 million to 21 million households that rely on an antenna to watch TV can contact the government to receive two coupons worth $40 each to buy converter boxes.
The $1.5 billion program - which is enough to fund 33.5 million coupons - ends March 31, 2009.
Retailers in mid-February will begin selling the devices, which translate the digital signal into analog. Advertisement
The other major retailers include Circuit City Stores Inc., Target Corp., Sears Holdings Corp. and its Kmart outlets and RadioShack Corp. Wal-Mart's Sam's Club stores also will sell the devices.
"Over 100 retailers have been certified, including a variety of small stores, retail chains and these very large retailers," said Meredith Baker, who is the acting administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which is overseeing the coupon program.
Several companies - including Digital Stream Technology Inc., LG Electronics Inc. and Royal Philips Electronics NV's Magnavox and Philco operations - have manufactured converter boxes that have been approved by the government.
The NTIA is expected to certify several more devices in the next few weeks.
Who needs a box?
The nation's broadcasters on Feb. 17, 2009, will be turning off their analog over-the-air broadcasts.
You will need a digital converter box if your television doesn't have a digital receiver. Most older sets only have analog signal receivers.
Cable and satellite TV users won't need to get a converter box because the service providers say they will ensure their subscribers continue to view programming after the switch.
Consumers can apply for coupons via phone at 1-888-388-2009 or via the government website - www.DTV2009.gov - starting Jan. 1
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Hmmm.....now the government is paying for TV over the air.
Where I live if you don't have cable, you get PBS--poorly--and nothing else.
I don't have a TV, and likely wouldn't have one even if I lived where I could pick up a decent signal.
I don't see why I should pay for this crap.0 -
Let me see if I've got this right, the government mandates that we have better picture quality and then wastes 1.5B so people that can't afford to have this better quality T.V. will have it. What's next. Is congress going to buy everyone an X-box so we all can enjoy the best video game experience? 0 -
I will apply just for the hell of it. 0 -
And people complain about the spending on the war..... 0 -
I saw a batch of VCR/DVD players for sale cheap at an electronics store the other day. They all had big stickers advising that they would require a digital converter box after Feb '09.
I'm curious if these would qualify you for one of these coupons.0 -
No more analog being manufactured. Digital only. After a few years, not an issue. Joe 0 -
BUT WHY???? What is the purpose of mandating digital broadcasting???
Quite frankley I haven't been overly impressed with ANY of the digital crap I have seen.0 -
The purpose is...the Federal Government is selling the public airwaves.
VHF/UHF is getting sold for mobile devices. America is losing it's free airwaves.
Eventually they'll sell the 40 bands of the CB's to someone and mandate digital CB's for truckers to boot.
That $1.5 Billion Federal subsidy to trick America into giving up it's airwaves is not a loss to the Federal Govt..
They are making much more than that with the sale or lease of the airways.
We have digital already here. Let me tell you...it absolutely sucks. Before with VHF/UHF if you were far from the TV station you would get a fuzzy channel but still able to make it out and watch a show.
With digital....if you are too far away the frame will freeze....pixelate.....won't allow you to watch TV if you are not near a digital antenna of a TV station.
We're suckers for letting them do this.0
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