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Digital TV subsidy program nearly dry: get your vouchers now
When the FCC's Kevin Martin asserted that the 2009 digital TV transition subsidy program was nearing the end of its financial rope back in October, no one really paid him any mind. After all, this ain't the FCC's gig. Now, however, an AP report on the topic is confirming the fears, noting that the NTIA itself is "warning that unless lawmakers step in quickly with more funding or new accounting rules, it will have to create a waiting list for coupon requests." Should this occur, new vouchers would only be sent out once previously mailed vouchers expired without being used. As of now, only $68.2 million of the $1.34 billion set aside for this program remains free, and after February 17th comes and goes, you can bet the interest will skyrocket. Moral of the story? Get your request in now if you're in need (check here to see if you are).[Via ShellyPalmerMedia] Update: The well is dry! Yikes!
Poll: Are you ready for the digital TV transition?
Hard to believe that next month will mark the official (though not really) end of analog broadcast signals here in the US of A, but it's true. February 17th is within spitting distance, and we get the feeling that loads of voucher requesters will be filing into retail outlets in order to get their DTV converter box soon. Our question is simply this: are you already prepared, or have you yet to become DTV ready? %Poll-24543%
Confusion still running rampant in run-up to DTV transition
Oh, dear. You all point and laugh now, but as Richard Doherty, an analyst with the Envisioneering Group, has stated: "On February 18, there will be a tremendous amount of finger-pointing." Richard also makes another point that we certainly agree with in that "this transition is possibly one of the worst understood consumer education programs in modern times," with millions of Americans still unready for the impending change. 'Course, if you've ever attempted to help your grandmother troubleshoot a VCR over the phone (let alone in 30-second blips), it's somewhat easier to understand why this process is so difficult to grasp. As of today, legions of people are still perplexed at what's coming, and we believe that many are apt to simply sit around and do nothing. The government / NAB is ramping up advertising and sending out DTV transition-mobiles in order to get the word out, but one must wonder, is it too late to save those who have already delayed this long?Read - Nielsen statisticsRead - Confusion in DTV Transition
Officials urging new TV buyers to not junk their analog sets
Earlier this week we discussed the pros and cons of picking up a new digital tuner-equipped TV or simply throwing a DTV converter onto the analog set you already own. Needless to say, quite a few individuals across America will be choosing the former option, which creates quite the issue: where are all of those old sets going to go? Early on, surveys showed that people were most likely to resell it, donate it or recycle it, but we all know how easy it is to utter the politically correct response when under the microscope. In reality, there's a great chance that a large quantity of analog TVs will end up in the dump, and officials are making an eleventh hour push to encourage individuals to recycle their screen rather than clog up a nearby landfill. Given that we live here too, we'd also like to encourage the act of recycling if you're planning on ditching the old for something new -- wouldn't want the DTV conversion to be the start of the Apocalypse or something.
Cable operators agree to freeze analog-to-digital moves until after cutover
Cable companies have been moving analog stations to digital tiers for quite some time now, using the shifts to free up bandwidth and expand the amount of stations they carry. Separately, broadcast stations (you know, those ones you can pick up with an OTA antenna) are being forced to beam out signals in digital-only this coming February. The two scenarios have nothing to do with one another, but it's evidently difficult for the average consumer to grasp that -- particularly when cable carriers are accelerating analog-to-digital transitions in order to "encourage" the purchase of digital tiers and corresponding set-top-boxes. To that end, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association has agreed that all cable companies will freeze their own personal switchovers until the national broadcast cutover is complete, which will hopefully solve some of the confusion. We have a hard time believing outfits like Comcast signed on without a fight, but either way, it looks like those digital tiers won't be growing out of control between December 31st and February 17th, 2009.
Ask Engadget HD: DTV converter, or a new TV?
Hard to believe, but in just over two months, analog signals will be a thing of the past in the USA. Okay, so we're sure a small grace period will be enacted, but the digital TV transition is coming at a furious pace. Devin has written in this week with a question that we reckon many are pondering, so here's your shot at discussing it: "I know I could redeem my $40 voucher for a digital TV converter, but I'm beginning to wonder if that's the best thing for my garage TV. I'm not really fond of cluttering the area up with another set-top-box, and really, I'm wondering if this is the perfect excuse to pick up a small HDTV. I'm wondering what other readers in this situation are doing, and if so, which small HDTV should I pick up to replace my existing analog set?" Sure, we should all feel absolutely terrible about junking that perfectly good analog set and using this as an opportunity to get yourself a new HDTV, but hey, why not donate the old set, take a tax write-off and get a warm, fuzzy feeling in exchange? That's our advice, what's yours?Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
FCC cancels white space meeting to focus on digital TV transition
Man, we're clearly in the wrong line of work. It seems that being in the FCC means that you can basically ignore everything else going on so long as you squint really hard and pretend to make progress on an imminent event that's just over two months ago. Sure, we're just bitter, but we're struggling to understand why an agency this large can't work towards auctioning a slice of soon-to-be-freed airwaves for widespread internet use while educating consumers on the digital TV transition that's coming in February. Caving to requests from Democratic lawmakers, the FCC has canceled a December 18th meeting that would've been used to discuss the next step in making the most of white spaces, but unless we see these very suits walking the streets with signs saying "THE END IS NEAR! FEBRUARY 17TH, 2009!," we're going to be rather peeved.[Via phonescoop]
Ofcom looks to promote pay-TV competition
We've known that a few good souls over in the UK have been fighting for more high-def for some time now, but a new report from across the pond asserts that Ofcom -- the independent regulator and competition authority for the communication industries in the United Kingdom -- has placed the "release of spectrum through the digital dividend at the top of its priorities, and promoting competition in pay-TV." It's also nearing a decision on whether it will forge ahead with proposals to force Sky to "offer some of its premium channels as part of a wholesale offer in spring 2009." In all honesty, it's tough to digest what exactly all this legalese means for the average UK content viewer, but so long as someone up top is pushing for more competition, we guess it can only result in a net positive.
Boston TV stations team up for educational 'DTV Day'
As the US analog shutoff draws inevitably closer, we have all ideas that we'll be seeing quite a few other major markets making major pushes to get the word out. The next in line is Boston, where all of the local television stations and cable providers have teamed up to "help viewers prepare for the federally mandated shutdown of full-power television analog signals and the transition to digital television (DTV) on February 17, 2009." The so-called 'DTV Day' will take place a week from today from 5:00AM to 7:30PM ET, and during that window, locals will see intermittent daylong crawls on all outlets promoting DTV information, daylong, uninterrupted DTV information on a single, destination station (WGBH-TV analog) and a trio of two-minute "Virtual Shutdown" readiness tests. Talk about serious -- we didn't even prepare for Y2K like this.[Image courtesy of Brandeis]
Panasonic reopens VIERA HDTV Concierge Service to the public
It's official: Panasonic reopens its VIERA HDTV Concierge Service to the public at large every single holiday season. This year, however, is different. Rather than shutting down the lines to all but those who actually own a VIERA HDTV on December 31st, Panny will keep the cords of communication open through February 17, 2009. Yep, from now until the Digital TV Transition takes place in America, any human with access to a phone can call in to receive all sorts of buying advice and subliminal encouragement to choose a Panasonic set over any other. If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, hit 'em with your best shot at 1-888-777-1170. Just mind the brainwashing and you'll be a-okay.
SAFER bill keeping PSAs alive on analog until March 2009
Not that we're excusing the act of procrastination, but regardless of how much we or any governmental agency does to inform the general public of the impending digital TV transition, you can bank on the fact that some folks will act utterly stunned when their analog set stops receiving signal on February 17, 2009. Being sure that said scenario will become a reality in due time, the US Senate last week passed the Short-Term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness (SAFER) Act, which would allow "public safety announcements and information about the DTV transition to continue being broadcast for a month after the official cut-off." The House has yet to give its official stamp of approval, but with both FCC chairman Kevin Martin and the Bush administration at large backing it, we don't foresee any snags in passage. On that note, get yourself a voucher and get prepared!
Verizon's FiOS TV now 100% digital
We heard earlier this year that Verizon would be caving to the FCC's request and phasing out any remaining analog duplicate channels that it was still hosting, and as of today, the carrier can claim that its fiber-based programming service is completely digital. For those affected, Verizon has been offering up free digital adapters to cope, and as of this very moment, each of its FiOS TV subscribers should be good to go with its 100% digital lineup. The impending digital TV transition has claimed another, but we won't shed a tear for the removal of analog. Coldhearted, but totally justified.
Two-thirds of OTA households have requested DTV coupons
There's no doubt that the CEA and NTIA have been spreading the word about the 2009 digital TV transition as hard as they can, but some folks still aren't taking the time to listen. 'Course, 62% is way better than what we've seen in the past, but that still leaves a full third of OTA-reliant American households sans a government-issued voucher with under 100 days to go until analog slides under the guillotine. Currently, 17 million homes have requested 33.5 million coupons (in other words, most folks are requesting the maximum of two) and 13.5 million have been redeemed. For those with a strange curiosity to know even more, it's stated that a number of eastern cities have the highest coupon application rates, while folks in Hawaii and Alaska could apparently care less. Can't blame 'em given the scenery, eh?
DirecTV spent $640,000 lobbying on DTV transition, sports programming in Q3
Admit it -- you're curious as to how DirecTV plans on spending / investing that $363 million in pure, sweet net profit that it just raked in, aren't you? If Q3 is any indication, it'll spend at least a snippet of it lobbying Congress. A rather vague report from the AP indicates that the satcaster spent $640,000 last quarter lobbying "on the digital television transition, sports programming, taxes and other issues." Unfortunately, the details about what exactly it was lobbying for on those issues were casually left out, so we suppose it's up to our imaginations to figure out the rest. Or, you know, wait until something decisive goes down.[Image courtesy of DayLife]
LodgeNet acts to keep OTA signals alive in analog hotels
LodgeNet is looking out for hoteliers and hotel guests who actually want to watch a little TV while traveling after February 17, 2009 by rolling out a digital transition roadmap to bring venues up to speed. Granted, most hotels don't rely on analog OTA signals to begin with, but for those that still do, it's hoping to "propose a customized solution for each property." In other words, it'll see if analog OTA is still in use, and then offer a marked-up installation of DirecTV and / or a gaggle of DTV converter boxes -- brilliant!
Best Buy / NAB to host DTV transition workshops for the uninformed
Best Buy has been pushing out "surveys" asserting that the vast majority of America still isn't prepared for the looming 2009 digital TV transition for months now, but at long last the retailer is stepping up to do something about it. Similar to Circuit City's initiative earlier this year, Best Buy is teaming up with NAB to host in-store DTV workshops in the 25 largest cities across the nation. The festivities will begin on the morning of November 17th in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and a smattering of others, and of course, you can count on store employees coaxing you into buying a DTV converter box right then and there. Ah well, whatever it takes to get you prepared. Like an Eagle Scout.
Dayton, Ohio broadcasters begin analog shutoff drills
You can now add Dayton, Ohio to the list of towns across America running analog shutoff drills to ensure that procrastinating locals, um, get the message. At approximately 6:58PM local time this evening, the city's five stations -- WBDT-TV, WDTN-TV, WHIO-TV, WKEF-TV, and WRGT-TV -- will broadcast a 60-second announcement in which viewers will be tasked to "look for a message which will only be visible on the digital signal." If they can spot the message, they're suitably prepped for February 17, 2009; if not, they'll be given a phone number to frantically call for help. We're told that tonight's test will be the first of a long line of drills taking place over the next 13 weeks, and given that a swath of folks will likely be out getting their Friday night party on, that's probably a good thing.[Thanks, Dayton Guy]
Chicagoland broadcasters testing analog shutdown today
For any Chicago-area readers not already enjoying tru2way bliss (or certain Engadget editors waiting around for another CableCARD install attempt), the full power broadcast TV stations in the area are running their own soft-shutdown of analog TV broadcasts at 6:53 a.m. and 5:23 p.m., sending anyone properly prepared for digital broadcasts a screen crawl to check all household TVs, while analog sets will get a fullscreen graphic directing them towards various informational resources, including a (hopefully) prepped and ready 311 call center to assist residents in making the switch. Know someone who still gets their TV OTA? Make sure they're watching TV at the appointed test times, or better yet send them a link to one of the available online resources, and then for some Harold's.[Thanks, Stephen]
Digital TV transition spoof video is both informative and hilarious
By now, you've probably seen at least one DTV transition commercial, and if not, you're clearly not watching enough television. Criticisms aside, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to point you at what will unquestionably be the most hilarious (albeit informative) digital TV conversion ad of all time. We won't even bother trying to explain what happens in this 1 minute, 53 second masterpiece, but as you can glean from the photo above, this is a can't-miss experience. Jump past the break and mash play.[Thanks, Sean]
DISH Network joins with CBA to push awareness of DTV transition, sell converter boxes
Let us not forget, DISH Network has a dog in the fight too when it comes to digital TV converter boxes. Said satcaster currently has a few such devices on the market right now -- the TR-40 CRA, DTVPal, and DTVPal Plus -- and it's looking to simultaneously push awareness of the impending analog switchover and sell a few converters while it's out there. Via a partnership with the Community Broadcasters Association (CBA), the two will ambiguously reach out to those not yet informed and urge them to take action well before February 2009. Of course, how exactly they plan on doing that remains somewhat of a mystery. In related news, we are told that the TR-50 standalone OTA DVR (or the DTVPal DVR, as it will be known), should be available later this month. Huzzah!
