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Residents prepare for digital television requirements
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| Digital television (DTV) converter boxes sit on a shelf next to pamphlets designed to educate customers about the upcoming transition from analog to digital at the Best Buy store in Conroe. All television sets will make the jump from analog to digital broadcasting at midnight Feb. 17, 2009. |
By Elliott Cochran
As the deadline approaches for the conversion to digital broadcasting, cable providers and retailers are working to make sure residents don’t miss out on the conversion and their favorite television programs.
All television sets will make the jump from analog to digital broadcasting at midnight Feb 17, making “rabbit ear” antennas extinct and ushering in a new era of programming through digital converter boxes.
Although many county residents will be affected by the conversion, Pete Abel, senior vice president of corporate communications for Suddenlink, said converter boxes will not be necessary for every household.
“If the average Joe is a cable TV customer, the conversion will not affect them, but those who aren’t hooked up to a cable provider will need to get a converter box early enough to hook it up and make sure everything works before February,” he said. “In many parts of the county, we will be dramatically reducing our cable rates for new customers making the transition to digital TV as easy as possible.”
Abel said standard installation fees of $45.95 will be reduced to $19.95 for up to three television sets in households within specific service areas of Montgomery County.
Converter boxes can be had in the county for around $60, but government assisted programs offering a $40 rebate on products through the website, www.dtv2009.gov, where an application request for the coupon may be completed.
According to the website, it will not be necessary for residents to buy new television sets in order to receive digital programming with the converter box.
County electronics stores have seen many customers purchase the converter boxes with the government coupon.
Elliot Wu, a customer service representative at Best Buy in Conroe, said most their customers are educated and prepared to make the digital jump.
“We’ve sold quite a few and we get a steady supply of boxes from each shipment we get,” he said. “Customers tend to be educated about the conversion, but occasionally we’ll have a customer who isn’t sure about what’s going to happen that we help.”
For more information about the digital convergence including answers to frequently asked questions, or to apply for a government sponsored coupon, visit www.dtv2009.gov.
All television sets will make the jump from analog to digital broadcasting at midnight Feb 17, making “rabbit ear” antennas extinct and ushering in a new era of programming through digital converter boxes.
Although many county residents will be affected by the conversion, Pete Abel, senior vice president of corporate communications for Suddenlink, said converter boxes will not be necessary for every household.
“If the average Joe is a cable TV customer, the conversion will not affect them, but those who aren’t hooked up to a cable provider will need to get a converter box early enough to hook it up and make sure everything works before February,” he said. “In many parts of the county, we will be dramatically reducing our cable rates for new customers making the transition to digital TV as easy as possible.”
Abel said standard installation fees of $45.95 will be reduced to $19.95 for up to three television sets in households within specific service areas of Montgomery County.
Converter boxes can be had in the county for around $60, but government assisted programs offering a $40 rebate on products through the website, www.dtv2009.gov, where an application request for the coupon may be completed.
According to the website, it will not be necessary for residents to buy new television sets in order to receive digital programming with the converter box.
County electronics stores have seen many customers purchase the converter boxes with the government coupon.
Elliot Wu, a customer service representative at Best Buy in Conroe, said most their customers are educated and prepared to make the digital jump.
“We’ve sold quite a few and we get a steady supply of boxes from each shipment we get,” he said. “Customers tend to be educated about the conversion, but occasionally we’ll have a customer who isn’t sure about what’s going to happen that we help.”
For more information about the digital convergence including answers to frequently asked questions, or to apply for a government sponsored coupon, visit www.dtv2009.gov.
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Whiskyecho wrote on Nov 29, 2008 8:55 AM:
1) "All television sets will make the jump from analog to digital broadcasting" - It's not the TV sets that will "make the jump" - it's the TV Broadcasting Stations that must follow the analog to digital mandate.
2) "making “rabbit ear” antennas extinct" - not so, the "rabbit ear" antennas will still work if:
A) your "old" analog TV uses one of the converter boxes, or
B) you've got a new(er) TV that is equipped with a digital receiver
3) "but those who aren’t hooked up to a cable provider will need to get a converter box" - not so - subscribers to satellite service don't need cable or a converter box
Here's a quick run-down of the requirement:
With an old (analog) TV you'll need
1) a converter box if using an OTA antenna (rabbit ears or a roof/staff mount)
2) a Cable subscription
3) a Satellite subscription
or
Buy a new, digital ready, TV
A couple of reminders:
1) High Definition reception is always Digital - but - Digital reception isn't always HD (you'll need a HDTV plus a HD subscription from Cable or Satellite or an OTA antenna to get HD broadcasting/reception
2) If you continue to use your "old" analog TV(s) with converter box, you'll need a converter box for each TV
3) RV owners - even new RV's have analog TVs so in order to get reception you'll need a converter box or be hooked up to cable or satellite
4) Canadian TV stations have a few more years before their analog/digital change over (don't know about Mexico) "