If TV's big switch from analog to digital broadcasts were to happen today instead of the scheduled Feb. 17, 2009, a large percentage of African-American and Hispanic households would be left in the dark, according to a new report released Friday by Nielsen research.
According to the study, 13 million households would be without any service, and another 6 million households would have at least one set that would not be able to receive digital signals.
The report suggested that African-American and Hispanic households are the least prepared for the switch -- with 17.3 percent of Hispanic households unable to receive digital signals on any set in their homes.
Affected households can get a digital converter box, buy a new television or sign up for cable or satellite service or one of the newer cable-like services being offered by phone companies.
Most U.S. TV stations already broadcast digital signals as well as analog. What's happening a year from Sunday is they'll switch off the analog signals. No one with cable or satellite service will be affected, nor will anyone who gets stations over the air with a newer TV with a digital tuner.
Those who will be affected are the 13 million or so households that get TV broadcasts exclusively over the air and have a TV more than a few years old — or even a newer TV that's relatively small. Also affected are TVs not connected to cable, even if a home has cable.
A government program said Friday that it will begin sending out coupons tomorrow (Feb. 19) worth $40 each to any U.S. household that requests them to subsidize buying a box. Each household is entitled to two coupons for the boxes, which are just coming into stores now, start at $40 or $50, making this option easy and practically free. The government says it has funds for 33 million coupons. To get one, go to http://www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009).
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