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Wilmington Test Reveals Consumer Awareness of DTV Transition

September 17, 2008


By Nora Gray


With the national transition to all-digital television broadcasts less than five months away, stations in Wilmington, N.C., working with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), got a head start and completed the conversion this week. All analog television broadcasts ended in Wilmington on Monday to gauge viewer awareness of the transition and to ascertain what problems may result when the rest of country converts to digital television in February.


FCC Received More Than 1,200 Viewer Calls Following Digital TV Conversion


According to the FCC, the first day the Wilmington transition took place the agency's helpline received 797 phone calls from viewers. Of those, only 23 were from people who knew nothing about the transition. The remainder were requests for information and help with technical issues. The second day the calls dropped to 424. The FCC reported that the number of households which were completely unaware of the switch to digital television amounted to less than one-half of one percent.


The majority of phone calls to the FCC were from viewers who were aware of the transition and had prepared for it, but were having difficulties with reception for various reasons. Many could not receive any signal at all; a large number of viewers couldn't get a signal from Wilmington's NBC affiliate whose analog signal covered a much larger area than the new digital signal could reach; some were having problems with poor reception attributable to antenna issues; and still others were experiencing problems with converter boxes. The FCC said that after assessing the calls for help, one area they will address in the upcoming months is information on how to set up converter boxes correctly.


Television Viewers Prepare for Digital TV Transition in February 2009


Viewers who do not subscribe to cable or satellite television providers and receive their television signal with a roof top or set top antenna will have to take action before the February 2009 digital conversion or they will not be able to receive any television broadcasts. These households may purchase a new digital television set, subscribe to a cable or satellite television provider, or purchase a converter box for their current set. The government is offering a $40 coupon toward the purchase of a converter box. For more information about the DTV conversion to: www.dtv.gov.