RSSUS unreadiness for DTV declines to 5%, says Nielsen
By Scott M. Fulton, III | Published January 22, 2009, 4:32 PM
In its latest month-by-month analysis of the relative state of readiness of US citizens for the DTV transition, still scheduled for February 17, analysis firm Nielsen now estimates that based on its analysis of 37,000 metered households, about 5% of US households remain unprepared -- down from 6.8% in December, 7.7% in November, and 8.4% in September. Nielsen's numbers were revealed this morning by Broadcasting & Cable
So the trend is positive, generally speaking. However, legislators remain concerned that some 6.5 million Americans remain unprepared. On the other side of the picture, the National Association of Broadcasters believes Nielsen's numbers may be exaggerated. An NAB spokesperson told Betanews this afternoon that it believes Nielsen's estimates "do not count customers who have yet to set up their converter boxes, or who are waiting for coupons."
Does anyone know of anyone in a rural or remote area that is on Nielson's monitoring system. I don't. Many of us can't even get a digital signal, where at the present we get analog just fine. We actually need years to perfect the system. Remember jumping into a war that we underestimated and were not prepared for? Europe has digital (DVB-T etc.) such as the UK with Freeview, but it is not mandated. In the UK, nearly 30% still use analog.
Also, not every one can afford to convert even if they received a decent digital signal. Not everyone can get cable, or even afford it, in which they could not afford satellite either. If you can't get a coupon, and cannot afford full price for the converter, not to mention a new, expensive antenna system for many. if you think this is wrong, then think about all of those who can't afford there medications, or heat for their homes. Many just want to get the same few channels they they have depended on for news, weather and emergency broadcasts, and possibly a little entertainment. Most of you who think this should go through without delay have you fancy High-Def and 5.1 sound. many of us who don't have or want that luxury could care less about all that. We only want the channels at the resolution we have been getting. This is the first time in TV broadcasting history that we are being forced to buy new equipment to get what the government calls "freeDTV". When color came out, we could keep our old sets for B/W. The same when stereo broadcasts came out. We didn't need new equipment, mono was fine. There is nothing "free" mandated DTV. It is not just a matter of not being prepared -- many can't afford to be prepared or don;t want it or need it.
That analog spectrum for pubic safety ... bull. It is for the electronics industry who lobbied for this.
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|People had over a year to convert, why delay it, this just means people who love to procrastinate will just have few more months to procrastinate and complain about not having enough time to convert.
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