36 Percent Still Clueless About Digital TV Transition

The transition from analog to digital TV is a little more than a year away, yet more than a third of U.S. households are blissfully unaware of the deadline, according to a new survey.

The Consumer Reports survey (by way of Digital Media Wire) found that about 36 percent of TV households don't know that analog TV transmission are about to go bye-bye. Meanwhile, only 27 percent of households know you can request coupons from the government that'll subsidize digital coverters boxes for older, analog TV sets (which sell for between $50 and $70).

When the digital TV transition date finally hits—February 17, 2009, to be exact—about 23 million households (according to Digital Media Wire) that get their TV from over-the-air antennas will need digital TV sets or converter boxes (click here for more info) to keep watching the tube. If you're watching over cable or satellite, you'll be fine for the time-being.

So why are so many people still unaware of the coming changeover? In a word (or two), it's all about outreach and education. There have been some campaigns on the part of the FCC and the National Association of Broadcasters, but the big TV networks need to play a bigger part. For example, when was the last time you saw a public service announcement about the digital TV transition in prime time? Never, right? Peppering popular shows like "American Idol" and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" with educational spots about the transition would be a great start.

Related:
Survey: 36% Unaware of Digital TV Transition; Many Confused [Digital Media Wire]
Reader Mail: DTV Converter Box Coupons? [Yahoo! Tech]