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Broadcasters Mostly Ready for DTV Switch - Consumers, Not So Much

The digital transition - when the television industry will move from analog broadcasting to digital - will take place in less than nine months, and most broadcasters are ready for the challenge, according to the Government Accountability Office.

91 percent of the 1,122 full-power stations that responded to a GAO survey said they are already broadcasting in digital, according to Broadcasting & Cable. 97 stations said they are not broadcasting in digital yet, but 94 of them said they would be by the Feb. 17, 2009, analog cut-off date.

Some stations that have not completed their digital build-outs blame the FCC for delaying construction permits or changes to their final digital channels.

A third of respondents said they were concerned that their signals will not reach cable operators or satellite TV providers after the transition. Satellite and cable operators responded that they need broadcasters to inform them of their digital coverage areas as quickly as possible.

As for consumers, a recent online survey from Bridgevine.com showed that 36     percent were not prepared for the digital transition. Six percent were completely unaware of the conversion.

“With a customer base that is generally quite     savvy about digital services and related issues, we were surprised by     the number of those people who are not prepared for the transition,”      said Vinny Olmstead, CEO of Bridgevine. “The     survey results clearly indicate a lapse in consumer education and     strongly suggest that additional awareness initiatives around the switch     to digital are needed for consumers nationwide.”

The move to all-digital broadcasts is expected     to impact 65 million or more Americans according to National Association     of Broadcasters and the GAO.