Confusion still running rampant in run-up to DTV transition
By Darren Murph 
posted Dec 23rd 2008 1:54PM
posted Dec 23rd 2008 1:54PM
Oh, dear. You all point and laugh now, but as Richard Doherty, an analyst with the Envisioneering Group, has stated: "On February 18, there will be a tremendous amount of finger-pointing." Richard also makes another point that we certainly agree with in that "this transition is possibly one of the worst understood consumer education programs in modern times," with millions of Americans still unready for the impending change. 'Course, if you've ever attempted to help your grandmother troubleshoot a VCR over the phone (let alone in 30-second blips), it's somewhat easier to understand why this process is so difficult to grasp. As of today, legions of people are still perplexed at what's coming, and we believe that many are apt to simply sit around and do nothing. The government / NAB is ramping up advertising and sending out DTV transition-mobiles in order to get the word out, but one must wonder, is it too late to save those who have already delayed this long?Read - Nielsen statistics
Read - Confusion in DTV Transition
It isn't like it is the end of the world. People that haven't been paying attention won't die without a TV. All this means is that TV sales will boom after the shut off, with people who weren't prepared.
I was annoyed by those commercials last year. The people that aren't ready for the transition probably don't watch that much TV in the first place.
A very true observation UncleCheeto.
Indeed. Even the cheap old codgers out there have already gotten a box, because there was a coupon :) Everyone likes new free channels.
Qu'ils mangent de la brioche - Marie-Antoinette
It was the Republicans, largely led by Kay Baily Hutchinson, who voted to s-can analog TV. Sadly it will be the millions of poor folks who typically vote Democrat, if they vote at all, who will lose their rabbit ear's TV.
Sorry, the government cannot help EVERY stupid person in this country...and by golly, there are a LOT of them.
You cannot help 100% of people 100% of the time, and I would not want to live in a world where that was reality.
The government website says we should use battery powered radios in emergencies (instead of the relatively cheap & small battery powered TVs we have now). This was written by someone who has never had to try to figure out exactly WHERE is that tornado that just touched ground & WHERE is it going.
We need SMALLER & cheaper battery powered TVs that can run longer than the large & expensive options currently on the market.
Agreed guys.