Survey: Are You Ready for the Digital TV Switch?

All you need is an HD-ready TV, a converter box, and a digital antenna, but still it seems there are tons of people who aren't ready for the switch from analog broadcast to digital. And now president elect Barak Obama's team isn't sure if the nation is ready for the big day, coming this February. According to the Washington Post, "The push to postpone the nation's switch to digital television next month got a boost yesterday when a top aide to President-elect Barack Obama [John Podesta, co-chair of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team] sent a letter to key members of Congress urging a delay, saying there is 'insufficient support' for the problems consumers will experience during the shut-off of analog signals." Federal officials added that the billion-dollar program to distribute $40 coupons to help with the cost of converter boxes, which run from $50 to 80, is out of money(!) and the 1.1 million people on the waiting list may not get their boxes in time for the 2/17 transition into the digital age.

If you are ready, share with us how you plan to get digital signals -- antenna, cable?

photo: Shaorang

Comments (5)

Seems like a not very useful survey on this blog since my assumption would be that most anyone that is into reading tech blogs might already have the inclination to be ready. I'm still curious though.

Why does the government care about our tv sets?

Is it anyone's fault except for their own that they haven't taken care of their TV issue yet? NO! In fact, they have been telling us about the change over for two years now, did people think the were joking?!

I say let them pay full price for the converter boxes!

The delay is a matter of economics. The Consumer Electronics Association estimates the consumer recognition of the cut of date to be above 95%. It's much more that the government can't afford the subsidy...

When my old TV broke back in 2002, I decided to plan ahead and get one with a digital tuner, since I had heard that a switch to digital would likely become law in the not-too-distant future. Unfortunately, Sears misrepresented the set I bought, and I discovered too late that it does NOT in fact have a digital tuner. Long story short, I am not ready for the switch after all.