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Ad Groups Back Delay in Digital Transition

Jan 27, 2009  •  Post A Comment

Advertising groups are adding their support to requests that Congress delay the digital TV transition.
In a statement today, as the House prepares to vote on delaying the DTV transition, the Association of National Advertisers, the American Association of Advertising Agencies and the American Advertising Federation are pointing to Nielsen’s projections of the number of households that could lose TV if the transition takes place on Feb. 17.
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Nielsen reported last week that 5.7% of the nation’s households were not ready for the digital TV as of Jan. 18, and another 9.2% are only partly ready. Nielsen also reported that those who are completely unready include 9.9% of African American and 9.7% of Hispanic households, with far higher numbers in some markets.
In Phoenix, for example, 18.2% of Hispanic households are unprepared.
The ad groups today said all the numbers indicate that 17.2 million households could lose TV reception if the transition goes forward Feb. 17.
“This sudden loss of the ability to receive television transmission would cut off millions of Americans from important media access, including the commercial messages of our members,” said the ad groups’ statement. It said a delay to June 12 would “assure” a smooth transition, with few households losing programming.
The Senate voted unanimously last night to delay the transition to June 12. The House today is expected to approve the legislation and send it to President Barack Obama.

4 Comments

  1. Have anyone considered the fact that all TV Stations have spend
    millions of dollars in buying new equipment to be ready for this transition in a short time and that they will loose many more if they
    are force to keep transmitting in analog signal? This is not
    something that was announced yesterday, it have been on TV, Internet,
    News, Radio, etc. for a while. If someone is not ready now, what would make you think that they will be ready for June 12?

  2. 9.2 per cent are partly ready? That could mean the tv in their camping trailer.

  3. Neat blog layout! Very easy on the eyes.. i like the colors you picked out

  4. Love the blog here. Nice colors. I am definitely staying tuned to this one. Hope to see more.

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