DTV Outreach - Sample News Release #2
Digital Television Transition – For Use in Announcing a DTV Transition Awareness Event
Sample Press Release #2
[Cut and paste this press release onto your organization’s
letterhead. Be sure to double-space. If the press release runs more
than two pages, consider using a smaller typeface or line-and-one-half
spacing, or edit the text. Send to the media during the week preceding
your event.]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: [Insert date]
CONTACT: [Insert name, phone number]
[NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION] URGES TV VIEWERS TO GEAR UP FOR THE
CONVERSION TO ALL-DIGITAL TELEVISION
[Your Organization] To Sponsor “DTV Awareness Day” on [date]
[Your City and State] -- At noon on January 15, 2009, most
television broadcasts in Hawai’i will be broadcast in digital
format. To help answer the many questions the transition to digital
television (DTV) raises, [your organization] is sponsoring “DTV
Awareness Day” on [date]. It will be held at [place] from [time]. It
will include [describe activities, e.g., workshops, panels,
speakers, etc.]. [Your spokesman] announced the event, stating,
“January 2009 will be here sooner than we think. [Your organization]
is happy to sponsor “DTV Awareness Day.” This event will help
everyone understand the DTV transition - what it is and what it
means to them. Please join us on [date].”
For viewers who have one or more televisions that receive free
over-the-air programming (with a roof-top antenna or “rabbit ears”
on the TV), the type of TV you own is very important. A digital
television (a TV with an internal digital tuner) will allow you to
continue to watch free over-the-air programming after January 15,
2009. However, if you have an analog television, you will need a
digital-to-analog converter box to continue to watch broadcast
television on that set. This converter box will also enable you to
see any additional multicast programming that your local stations
are offering.
Beginning in 2008, U.S. households may be able to obtain up to
two coupons worth $40 each toward the purchase of converter boxes.
The program will be run by the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA), a part of the U.S. Department of
Congress, which has issued rules regarding the coupon program.
(Please note that these coupons will expire 90 days after mailing).
[Your organization] reminds consumers that they should request their
coupons before early December to ensure arrival in time for use
before the actual DTV transition date.
If you are a cable or satellite customer, you
need to check with your service provider to be assured of a smooth
transition after January 15, 2009.
Why is the country converting to digital? Digital broadcasting
allows stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, and
digital is much more efficient than analog. For example, rather than
being limited to providing one analog program, a broadcaster is able
to offer a super sharp “high definition” (HD) digital program or
multiple “standard definition” (SD) digital programs simultaneously
through a process called “multicasting.” Multicasting allows
broadcast stations to offer several channels of digital programming
at the same time, using the same amount of spectrum required for one
analog program. Further, DTV can provide interactive video and data
services that are not possible with analog technology.
An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is
that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for
public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and
rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to
companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced
wireless services (such as wireless broadband). There are many sources of information about the
digital transition but one of the best is
www.dtv.gov/Hawaii, or calling locally
541-2389 or 541-2390. You can get
information on what DTV is, questions consumers should ask when
purchasing new television sets, what programs are available in DTV,
and much more. So,
come and learn about the digital transition. Don’t let your
television go dark after January 15, 2009.
Last reviewed/updated on 11/10/08 |