Senior Spectrum
Newspaper
April 2008
Our Other Publications
Generation Boomer
Magazine
on-line
Golden Pages
Directory
Seniors Get Ready to Switch to Digital TV?
What are your options?
Midnight February 17, 2009, television stations nationwide will switch service from analog to digital format. What this means for an estimated 19.6 million households that receive free broadcast television signals is that if you still have an analog television set and are picking up signals from outside antenna or rabbit ears, you will need to convert to another system if you want to watch your favorite television programming.
The Nevada Broadcasters Association is making an all out effort to reach Nevada consumers, especially seniors and people who are low-income and homebound or living in the rural communities, to make them aware of the changes mandated by the federal government. KTVN President and General Manager, Lawson Fox, said “We have a lot of people to reach and…we want to make sure we reach to those people.”
Digital TV (DTV) is different from the highly promoted High Definition TV (HDTV) that many television stations are converting too today. While both DTV and HDTV provide dramatically clearer pictures and better sound quality, the switch to DTV by full-powered local television stations is mandated under legislation passed by Congress in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
Consumers who have been receiving broadcast signals through antennas on television sets (rabbit ears) and outdoor antennas will be effected by the change. Those consumers will be required to upgrade to DTV by doing the following:
• DTV Converter Box: Purchase a DTV converter box that plugs into your existing analog TV set. A converter box will enable you to continue to receive free television reception. However, it should be noted there will be many converter boxes available nationwide and not all will provide television reception in your community.
The cost of the converter box can range between $40 and $70, and is currently available for purchase locally. The good news is that the government is providing $40 coupons, 2 per household, to use towards purchase to be redeemed within 90 days. The bad news is that the coupon must be applied for, funding is available on a first come first serve basis, and may run out before February 17th, 2009. For information or to request a coupon, call 1- 888-DTV-2009 or (TTY) 1-877-530- 2634, or visit: www.DTV2009.gov or mail to: P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR, 97208.
For some seniors, the application for the converter box coupon will require some assistance: Seniors will have to fill out the coupon application, decide which converter box is best to purchase in their community, and lastly hook up the converter box. As Fox pointed out, there are 400 translators in Nevada, and four converter boxes available. To get advice regarding the best box to purchase, Fox suggests consumers contact their local dealers for advice or log on to LPTVanswers.com or DTV2009.gov. He says consumers are also advised to contact their local TV stations. KTVN has been receiving about 20 calls a week regarding the change.
• Digital TV set: Consumers can purchase a new television set with a built-in digital or Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC) tuner. All TVs with a digital tuner are able to receive digital signals broadcast by television stations. Consumers continue to receive free programming with no monthly fees.
• Paid Service: Subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company service provider to continue using your analog TV set. For cable users, basic cable will cost approximately $25-$30 a month locally for the basic fee. (As of August, viewers who tune in to the government access channels 13, 15, and 17 will have to upgrade as the channels will then be broadcast on channels 213, 215, and 217. Eventually, there will be an additional $5 fee to upgrade to channel 74 and above.)
Also effected will be those consumers who live in areas with lowpowered stations. Low-powered stations are not required to switch to digital format, but they may be mandated to do so in the future. If you live in a low-powered signaled community, contact your provider for details on whether or not you will be effected.