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Nielsen: Ten Million Homes Not Ready for DTV

June 3, 2008

Nielsen Media Research has released a report indicating ten million homes will be unable to watch television when the FCC mandated transition from analog to digital broadcasting takes effect in February.

Analog TVs Will Go Dark without DTV Converter Box

The change will not adversely affect those who view programming through a cable or satellite provider, but for those who do not subscribe to a service and depend on “rabbit ears” antennas to receive their signal, action must be taken by the deadline or they will be unable to receive any broadcasts through their analog television sets.

The solution for those consumers is either to subscribe to a cable or satellite provider or to purchase a digital television converter box which will convert the new digital signals so they can be viewed through analog television sets. But despite a massive campaign by the U.S. government to inform television viewers of the transition, as well as a concerted effort by television stations across the country to inform their viewers of the switch, Nielsen estimates 9.4 percent of U.S. households will not have made the change in time.

The Nielsen report also noted that 25 million homes, while having their main television set ready, will have at least one other set in the house that will not be able to receive the new digital signals.

Information about the DTV Transition

The U.S. government is still offering $40 coupons to help viewers with the cost of buying a converter box. For complete details about the conversion to digital television in February 2009, go to: www.broadbandinfo.com/cable/digital-transition/default.html, www.DTV.gov, www.DTVAnswers.com, or www.DTV2009.gov.