Audio Video News

The U.S. is little more than a month away from the final deadline date for the transition from analog to digital television broadcasting, coming on June 12, 2009. So how are we doing? According to a new poll from the National Association of Broadcasters, we're doing OK, with 82 percent of broadcast-dependent TV households fully prepared for the DTV transition. This is a huge improvement over January.

What about the other 18 percent? The NAB says only 11 percent of households who depend on over-the-air television have taken no action. The remainder are preparing to prepare, as it were: "Unlike Nielsen, our assessment includes two classes of preparedness: those who are prepared now, and those who have demonstrated an understanding and commitment to being prepared by having applied for or received a converter box coupon," said Seth Geiger of SmithGeiger, which conducted the poll on behalf of the NAB.

"These findings demonstrate a dramatic acceleration in preparedness among our most vulnerable populations just six weeks shy of the transition," NAB's transition VP told This Week In Consumer Electronics. "Almost everyone knows about the transition now. By and large, the only folks left may simply be procrastinating or may believe the date might change again."

SmithGeiger sampled 1080 OTA households between March 26 and April 8. With 82 percent prepared for the transition, they're far better off than they were on January 9, when only 51 percent were prepared. Seniors are doing better than average, with 86 percent prepared.

See press release.