Broadcasters Launch Latest Series of Consumer Education Initiatives to Mark One-Year Countdown to Digital Television (DTV) Transition
February 11, 2008
Washington, D.C. — The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is broadening its consumer education initiatives this week with a variety of new efforts to help Americans prepare for the switch to digital television. On Monday, February 11, NAB's DTV speakers bureau launched a nationwide speaking blitz to mark the one-year countdown to the digital television transition. Broadcasters in all 50 states are participating in a series of DTV education speaking engagements that are taking place at local community venues nationwide.
"Broadcasters are leading the way to educate consumers about the digital television (DTV) transition," said David K. Rehr, president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters. "Every broadcast network and nearly 1,500 television stations nationwide are participating in a massive, multifaceted campaign that includes educational television spots, local speaking engagements and a variety of other educational initiatives."
To help consumers learn more about converter boxes and the federal government's converter box coupon program, NAB has produced new television spots that will be airing on television stations nationwide beginning next week. NAB is also producing a 30-minute educational program about the transition to digital television that will air on stations later this month.
NAB's DTV road show, which includes two trucks designed to resemble giant analog television sets, is another grassroots initiative that is helping consumers to get ready for the transition to digital. The "DTV Trekker" trucks have been crisscrossing the nation since last fall, and will travel 95,000 miles to over 600 locations in 200 markets before February 17, 2009, when all full-power television stations are required to begin broadcasting exclusively in the digital format. This week, the DTV Trekkers are traveling to community events in Missouri, Michigan and Florida.
According to a recent survey released by NAB, 79 percent of Americans have "seen, read or heard something about the February 17, 2009 transition to digital television." Awareness was even greater among exclusively over-the-air households, where 83 per cent of respondents reported that they are aware of the transition.
"Broadcasters' DTV consumer education initiatives are clearly working," said Rehr. "But there is more to be done, and television broadcasters are committed to ensuring that every American is ready for the switch to digital."
