Broadcasters Launch On-Air Campaign Marking Final Three Weeks Until June 12 Digital TV Switch
May 21, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC — With exactly three weeks until the nationwide transition to all-digital television, America's broadcasters tomorrow will kick off a major on-air campaign signaling to viewers the impending June 12 deadline.
Full-power television stations that have yet to switch to digital will air a new series of television spots counting down the final three weeks until the transition date. Produced by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), each spot is 15 seconds in duration and designed to mark the remaining three weeks, two weeks, seven days, six days, five days, four days, three days, two days and less than 24 hours from the deadline. The three-week countdown spot can be viewed at http://www.dtvanswers.com/dtv_30spots.html?b=97.
The series is aimed at alerting viewers to the nearing deadline and urging them to upgrade their TV sets in advance. Additionally, broadcast television stations will continue airing a rotation of spots that highlight the importance of antennas, rescanning for channels and tips for installing converter boxes.
As part of the final push, NAB has distributed to stations an updated half-hour educational program covering the basics of the transition to digital television (DTV), which stations are required to air at least once before June 12. Eligible broadcast stations may also run NAB's instructional DTV "nightlight" video, which will serve as the only analog programming in certain markets after the transition is completed. Both videos are available in English and Spanish.
"America's broadcasters are pulling out all the stops during these final weeks to ensure viewers are ready for the June 12 deadline," said NAB Vice President of DTV Transition Jonathan Collegio. "This critical on-air campaign culminates our industry's billion-dollar education effort to educate consumers about this historic switch."
By law, full-power television stations must broadcast exclusively in digital after June 12, 2009. Over-the-air television households risk losing reception after that date unless they upgrade their TV sets to DTV.
Read our backgrounder for more information on the DTV Transition
