DTV Transition is Tomorrow...
Make Sure You Are Ready!
In addition to the federal government's website, www.DTV.gov, about the digital TV transition, the Federal Communications Commission has a toll-free number, 1888-225-5322 (1-888-CALL-FCC), that will remain available to consumers in the weeks and months ahead.
Since February, when the U.S. government postponed the transition for three months, the number of households that are not prepared for tomorrow's digital television transition has been cut in half — from 5.8 million to 2.8 million homes, according to the latest Nielsen numbers. As a whole, more younger people as well as African-American and Hispanic households are disproportionately not ready for digital TV. The elderly are the most ready. "Given the importance that television plays in the day-to-day life of most people, we expect that the most of the remaining unready homes will take the necessary steps to get ready once the stations make the final switch to digital transmission. We will continue to follow this trend closely." Read Nielsen report.
Among major Texas markets:
- San Antonio has the lowest percentage of unprepared households. 3.17 percent of households, or 25,948 homes, in the San Antonio media market are currently unprepared for the transition to digital.
- In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, 5.84 percent of households, or 145,414 homes, are not ready.
- In Austin, 4.49 percent of households, or 29,978 homes, are unprepared.
- In Houston, 3.74 percent of households, or 78,772 homes, still need to take the necessary steps to switch.
What should you do if your television is not ready?
In addition to the federal government's website, www.DTV.gov, about the digital TV transition, the Federal Communications Commission has a toll-free number, 1888-225-5322 (1-888-CALL-FCC), that will remain available to consumers in the weeks and months ahead.
 Latest DTV News
Local stations are gearing up for viewer response after Friday's analog-to-digital transition
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 10, 2009
At noon Friday, the much-anticipated — or dreaded — once-delayed transition to digital-TV programming finally takes place in Dallas-Fort Worth. And despite recent headlines such as "Millions Face Blank Screens in TV Switch" in the June 6 New York Times, local TV stations are not nervous about what’s going to happen when they switch off their analog signals for good.
It's analog's last day: Tens of thousands may not be ready in Houston
Houston Chronicle, June 10, 2009
Most Houstonians are ready for Friday’s switch to digital television. They’ve set up converter boxes, connected to a pay service or bought new televisions with digital tuners. But thousands will see their screens go blank Friday as television stations nationwide start broadcasting in digital only. About 3.7 percent of Houston-area households, or 78,772 households, were unready for the switch as of Wednesday, according to Nielsen Media Research. Roughly 2.8 million homes nationwide won’t be ready.
FCC expects few problems during digital switchover
Reuters, June 10, 2009
At a news conference Wednesday in Los Angeles, acting Federal Communications Commission chairman Michael Copps reiterated the importance of the transition and said the agency was expecting relatively minor problems when the switchover begins Friday. "This is the biggest transition in television, an even bigger transition than black-and-white to color," Copps said. "Our whole society is going digital, and broadcast needs to be a part of that transition."
DTV deadline is Friday
Victoria Advocate, June 9, 2009
On Jan. 1, 1954, Americans from coast to coast witnessed the first nationwide colorcast when the Tournament of Roses Parade was aired in vivid Technicolor. This broadcast marked the arrival of the color television, something Americans have now enjoyed for more than half a century. Not since that undertaking have the U.S. broadcasting industry and the federal government endeavored to roll out a technology upgrade that has an impact on every American household. Until now.
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