DTV Transition-Millions Are Not Prepared

    GAINESVILLE, FL, March 17, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- It is estimated that 4.5 million Americans are still unprepared for the switch to only digital broadcasting on June 12th, 2009, even though the scheduled deadline was originally February 17th. The FCC recently set down a few new rules for broadcasting companies across the United States, including the fact that they have to provide reminders for their audiences that the transition is on its way and how they can be prepared for it.

Those who have cable TV will not have to worry about the conversion, but low-power local stations, class A stations, and TV translator stations will be able to continue broadcasting in analog even after the over-the-air cutoff until 2012. They will eventually be forced to switch over, although no deadline has been set.

Almost no pay TV customer will have to be concerned about purchasing a converter box, either, since the equipment that they lease from their television provider is typically already DTV compatible.

Anyone who lives outside the city limits and receives television signals over the air will not only need to purchase a converter box for their televisions, but will also need to purchase a DTV compatible antenna if their current antenna is not up to date. The better antenna they have, the better DTV and HD reception they will be able to get. Not only that, but HDTV antennas are capable of giving the highest quality HD possible, whereas cable and satellite companies are unable to provide true HD due to bandwidth limitations.

As the United States and the rest of the world slowly begin the transition to digital-only broadcasting and entertainment, private homeowners in rural areas are not the only ones having trouble with the transition.

Many theaters across the United States are also falling behind in the switch for a number of reasons: even though the equipment is much more efficient to operate, it is also a much more expensive initial investment. Most theater owners are unsure how to handle the cost of upgrading; that is, whether to eat the cost now and hope that more people frequent the theater because of the quality of its film showings or to raise the cost of admission and food to pay for it. Either way, it's clear that someone will have to pay the price to upgrade and with the failing economy, a theater's mis-step in one direction or the other could cause their own credits to roll instead of their films'.

Small bars and restaurants with televisions available for their customers to watch are also being forced to make the switch. While many large establishments have already switched over to wide screen TVs that are DTV compatible, small businesses are having to make the decision between upgrading or removing the TV (or TVs), which could have an effect on sales.

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Source: TJT Media
Website: http://www.indoorhdantenna.com

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