Best Buy Helping the Digital Broadcast Transition
While shopping for electronics recently, my husband and I began to wonder what sort of support was being offered to those who’d be forced to make some sort of transition when analog makes it’s exit from television business and when digital broadcasting is the only option for television viewing.
My answer came when I received an announcement that Best Buy, the leading consumer retailer will be working to help educate consumers about DTV and will be offering a converter box coupon program.
Details I received are as follows:
As the end of the analog broadcast era draws near, Best Buy, the nation’s largest consumer electronics retailer, is taking steps to create a smooth transition to digital television (DTV) for all consumers. That’s why Best Buy today announced that they have pulled all remaining analog television products from store shelves and will only sell digital video tuners in the future. The company also announced that they will participate in the NTIA DTV Converter Box Coupon Program to help people purchase digital converter boxes for their analog televisions. Coupon-eligible converter boxes will be available in Best Buy stores beginning in early 2008.
Best Buy is the first CE retailer to publicly announce an exit from the analog television business. Stores were instructed to stop selling these products on October 1, 2007.
“We are committed to helping people understand the digital television transition, and exiting the analog video business is one way we can help avoid confusion,” said Mike Vitelli, senior vice president of electronics for Best Buy. “Customers can now be sure that any television they purchase at Best Buy will be fully compliant with the digital television transition. And for customers who aren’t in the market for a new television, we can help you find the best solution to meet your needs.”
Best Buy has been providing in store and online information about the DTV transition since early 2006. Brochures are available in stores and detailed information can be found on BestBuy.com. Best Buy’s home theater specialists have also been trained to answer questions and help customers figure out the best way to comply with the DTV transition. These education efforts will continue to grow through the remainder of 2007 all the way through the transition date in February 2009.
Three Options For Consumers to Comply with the DTV Transition
By February 17, 2009, consumers who receive over-the-air TV programming will have three options to receive TV broadcast signals after the DTV transition. These three options include:
· Purchase a digital-to-analog converter box that plugs in to an existing television. The converter boxes will be available at Best Buy locations in early 2008.
· Subscribe to a cable, satellite or telecommunications service provider if all desired local broadcast stations are carried by that service.
· Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner. For consumers choosing to purchase a new digital TV, Best Buy will provide recycling options for the existing television.
Best Buy will Accept NTIA DTV Converter Box Coupons
Beginning January 1, 2008, US households can request up to two electronic coupons, at a value of $40 each, that can be used at Best Buy and other participating retailers toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes.
Best Buy will begin to stock and sell coupon-eligible DTV converter boxes and will be accepting NTIA coupons beginning in early 2008. An exact date for the rollout of the boxes in stores is still being determined.
I hope this helps you and your family to make the necessary transitions and hope you don’t miss a single episode of your favorite weekly shows. I’m not sure I’d survive if I had to miss Medium, House, Supernanny and Bones
Related posts:
Hi Gadget Mom,
Liking the revolution theme… very ordered.
This digital switch over is very simple but people “en mass’ hate change so a big deal has been made out of it… I am glad that a reputable retailer like Best Buy is stepping in like this to make sure people don’t get it all wrong.
The coupon idea is also great…. however it’s still kind of unfair to expect low income families to pay anything to carry on watching some TV…. If you have cable though there is absolutely nothing you have to do.
Have a good day,
Forest.
Actually the Federal Government through the F.C.C. runs the digital coupon program. BTW, for people that already have either cable TV or satellite TV then their black boxes ARE digital and you don’t need to do anything.