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<strong>Veritas</strong> <strong>et</strong> <strong>Visus</strong> <strong>Display</strong> <strong>Standard</strong> February 2009<br />
6th Annual <strong>Display</strong>Search HDTV Conference<br />
September 15-17, 2008, Los Angeles, California<br />
In this second report of two, Phillip Hill covers presentations from DTVAnswers, LG Electronics USA,<br />
Audiovox Accessories Corporation, and Xceive<br />
G<strong>et</strong> ready for the switch to digital television (DTV)<br />
Harold Protter, DTVAnswers, Washington, District of Columbia<br />
DTVAnswers is the official website of the National Association of Broadcasters. The transition to digital television<br />
(DTV) is coming, Protter said. At the time of the conference, by law, television stations nationwide had switch<br />
from analog to digital broadcasts by February 17, 2009. This date has since been put back to June 12. Digital<br />
television gives dramatically clearer pictures, b<strong>et</strong>ter sound quality, more TV programming options, and it is more<br />
efficient and more flexible than analog. Every household in America that receives free over-the-air broadcasting<br />
signals through antennas on analog television s<strong>et</strong>s will be affected by the transition. 19.6 million households are<br />
analog only. An additional 15 million receive over-the-air signals on at least one analog s<strong>et</strong>. 69 million analog s<strong>et</strong>s<br />
are being used across the country.<br />
To prepare for the transition to enable continued watching on and analog s<strong>et</strong>, consumers need to purchase a<br />
converter box. A DTV converter box is an easy-to-install electronic device that hooks up to an analog television s<strong>et</strong>.<br />
The box converts the digital television signal into analog making it viewable on an analog TV. The boxes are<br />
expected to cost b<strong>et</strong>ween $40 and $70 and are available for purchase at r<strong>et</strong>ail stores that sell electronic equipment.<br />
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) began issuing coupons for DTV<br />
converter boxes in early 2008. Households may apply for up to two coupons, valued at $40 each, which must be<br />
redeemed within three months (90 days) of receipt. Otherwise consumer can purchase a new television with a builtin<br />
digital tuner. Or they can subscribe to a paid cable, satellite, or telephone company television service. Another<br />
option is to discover free over-the-air HDTV.<br />
LG’s Digital TV Transition Leadership<br />
John Taylor, LG Electronics USA, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey<br />
LG supported broadcasters with early converter boxes for testing and evaluations, and testified before Congress on<br />
DTV transition. LG drove the establishment of the DTV Transition Coalition, and partnered with broadcasters to<br />
promote DTV. It is working closely with FCC, NTIA, and CEA on consumer education efforts. The mission of the<br />
Digital TV Transition Coalition is that no consumer loses free over-the-air television reception due to a lack of<br />
information about the DTV transition. It has more than 230 members comprised of business, trade, industry groups,<br />
and grassroots organizations.<br />
LG’s Zenith initiative is supporting the CEA outreach to consumers – reaching the “Baby Boomers” and their<br />
parents, and donating Zenith converter boxes to senior citizens in Wilmington, Denver, and Minneapolis. The<br />
Zenith DTT901 has industry-leading tuner performance; extremely fast channel scan – less than 30 seconds. Zoom<br />
functionality remembers picture format by channel, and a 28-key remote also controls the TV. There is also a<br />
“What’s On Next” program guide, and it is available at Circuit City, Kmart, RadioShack, and regional r<strong>et</strong>ailers at<br />
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