Jack Kingston

A poll released today by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) shows most consumers in Georgia know about the  nationwide switch to digital television (DTV), which will be completed on February 17, 2009.

Conducted March 29 through May 23 by Smith-Geiger LLC, the survey reported  88 percent of Georgia households were aware that full-power television stations  will be switching their broadcast signals and programming to an all-digital format.  Across the country, consumer awareness of the DTV transition is nearly universal at 90 percent.

An estimated 324,420 homes in Georgia rely exclusively on over-the-air television, meaning they watch free TV broadcasts using rabbit ear or rooftop  antennas. These households will need to take steps to receive a digital television  signal by February 17, 2009, when all full-power stations must begin
broadcasting only in digital.

Among the survey’s key findings in Georgia:

• 88 percent of households are aware television is switching to digital
• 33 percent of households correctly stated the date of the transition
• 69 percent of households recalled seeing DTV messages on TV

Led by NAB, broadcasters nationwide are focusing their efforts on educating Americans about the actions they need to take to be prepared for the switch.  Over-the-air viewers must either purchase a converter box or digital TV set, or
subscribe to a pay service, such as cable or satellite. Local television and radio stations will continue running spots that highlight the transition date and the government‘s converter box coupon program, as well as explain the benefits of DTV and the ways consumers can upgrade to digital.

DTVAnswers.com is the official Web site of the National Association of Broadcasters’ digital television (DTV) transition campaign. Launched in January 2007, the DTV campaign’s mission is to ensure that no consumer is left
unprepared, due to lack of information, for the February 17, 2009, federallymandated transition from analog to digital broadcasting.