Boston's
'DTV Day'
On Tuesday, December 9, 2008 from 5:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., all media outlets will participate in a messaging campaign that will involve the same DTV readiness information in English and/or in Spanish on crawls airing on all stations. What is above-and-beyond other markets, and unique to Boston, is that these crawls also will direct viewers to go to a single destination station, WGBH-TV (PBS), to check if their sets are ready. WGBH will carry a special, day-long alert for analog viewers and an informational program on how to make the switch to digital. A message on the screen will tell viewers their set is not ready, and will list a free phone number to call for more information.
As educational background, WGBH will continuously run the 30-minute program, Get Ready for Digital TV, featuring THIS OLD HOUSE hosts Norm Abram and Kevin O'Connor visiting Boston-area homes and giving hands- on guidance for checking TV sets for digital readiness. The program will be in English and Spanish. (Viewers whose sets are digital ready will see WGBH-TV�s regular program line-up.) Thanks to the combined promotional power of the media outlets and the daylong alert on WGBH-TV analog, viewers can access DTV Transition information at a time convenient for them. It also allows viewers to have time to see and comprehend what DTV Transition means, check multiple TVs in the home, and even visit a neighbor or family member to help them get ready for DTV.
In addition to daylong crawls on the stations and content on WGBH-TV analog, all stations will participate in a �Virtual Shutdown� readiness test. The
test will occur simultaneously across all channels at 5:15 a.m., 6:15 a.m., and
5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9. The tests will last two minutes each and will alert television audiences whether or not their TV sets are ready for the DTV Transition through a full screen graphic alternating in English and/or Spanish that will inform them of any steps they must take, if necessary.
MORE INFORMATION:
Broadcasters are in the midst of exciting and dramatic changes as they prepare for the February 17, 2009 digital television (DTV) transition, the federally mandated switch from analog to digital television broadcasting. This means conventional television broadcasting, as we currently know it, will come to an end.
The new upgraded digital technology will offer a myriad of consumer advantages, including crystal clear pictures and CD-quality sound, as well as multiple programming choices, HDTV and interactive options. The transition will also make additional spectrum available for advanced wireless applications.
Nationally, more than 34 million households will be affected by the DTV Transition, including approximately 70 million television sets, according to data released by the National Association of Broadcasters.
Television sets connected to cable or satellite should not be affected, and will continue to receive broadcast programming after that date. But, television sets that are not connected to cable, satellite, a telephone company television service provider or do not have a built-in digital tuner, will need a converter box to continue receiving broadcast television signals after the transition occurs.
Importantly, those most disproportionately affected by the DTV Transition will be seniors, minority populations, the economically disadvantaged, and those living in rural areas.
Prior to the February 2009 transition date, consumers who do not subscribe to cable or satellite television, but who receive free, broadcast-only TV reception will have three options to navigate the DTV Transition:
(1) Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner;
(2) Purchase a set-top converter box that will convert the digital signal into analog for an existing television set; or
(3) Subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company television service provider, in which case analog sets will continue to function.
Consumers can now purchase a DTV converter box that plugs into an existing analog set and allows continued free television reception. Upon request, the federal government will provide households up to two $40 coupons that can be used toward the purchase of these boxes. The boxes will be available at retail stores that sell electronic equipment. For more information about the coupon program or to apply, visit www.DTV2009.gov or call 1 (888) DTV-2009.
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