• WorldScreen.com, Wednesday, June 6, 2007 10:33 AM

A study by the Association of Public Television Stations finds that the 22 million American households that rely exclusively on free broadcast TV are hesitant to buy digital TV sets, or subscribe to cable or satellite services. This could cause problems as the U.S. prepares for a transition from analog to digital-only signals, since many consumers are unaware of it.

A different APTS report showed that 61% of over-the-air households had no idea the transition was taking place. "Public broadcasters have long supported a successful DTV transition," says APTS president and CEO John Lawson. "However, our study confirms that the government grossly under-funded consumer education when it mandated the end of television as most people know it by February 2009."

Lawson calls for a "Y2K-level effort" to make sure people know their old TV sets will go dark in 21 months unless they buy a digital converter, get a new set or pony up for cable or satellite.

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