Are Blacks Unprepared For Digital TV Flip?

You may have heard that in early 2009 television transmission will be revolutionized: it's going completely digital. Are you ready? Have you also gotten your government-issued discount coupons worth up to $40?

If you rely on an antenna to receive programming, have you gotten your digital conversion box? If you have, then you are not one of the 16.3 percent of black households fully unprepared for the switch.

Here are more details from a public relations press release:

Those with analog TV sets using a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears are at risk of losing their TV signal; one of the communities most in danger is African-Americans.

According to Nielsen data, 16.3 percent of African-American households are completely unready for the switch. This means you, your family, neighbors, elders, and friends may not know what the switch is, why or when it will happen, and how to prepare.

Nielsen data also shows that African-Americans continue to watch more television than the total U.S. composite. African-Americans watch 45 hours and 22 minutes of television per week. Total viewing among all households was 31 hours and 55 minutes per week and 27 hours and 13 minutes in Hispanic households.

Anyone using an analog television with a rooftop antenna or rabbit ears will find that their TVs will not work after February 17, 2009. Viewers with analog TVs using antennas have three options to keep their TVs working after the digital transition:

* Buy a certified converter box that will plug into your analog TV;
* Buy a TV with a digital tuner; or
* Connect your analog TV to cable, satellite or other pay service.

Because this change will impact African-Americans, the Department of Commerce wants to make sure that we know and understand the options to prepare. One of the options being that the TV Converter Box Coupon Program, run by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is offering U.S. households up to two $40 coupons to help pay for the cost of certified TV converter boxes and will mail coupons to those households requesting them. Coupon supplies are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. To date, more than 25.8 million coupons have been requested by 13.7 million households. There are 33.5 million coupons available for distribution. Purchasing a converter box is a one-time cost, and the boxes are expected to cost between $40 and $70.

But beware. As you get ready for the switch and are looking to buy a digital converter box, be on guard for scammers looking to prey on the people making the change. Check out what the Better Business Bureau is warning us about - click here.

For more information on making the switch to digital and what it means check out the official site: www.dtv2009.gov

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