Washington — More than 100 companies and organizations have joined forces to help consumers understand and prepare for the nation’s complete transition from analog to digital television broadcasting on Feb. 19, 2009.
The group, called the Digital Television (DTV) Transition Coalition, is a multi-industry body including representatives from both the public and private sectors.
Represented are members of the broadcast, cable and consumer electronics industries; retailers; civil rights and grassroots organizations; community groups; trade associations; and state and local government organizations.
Members have pledged to work together on a comprehensive consumer education campaign to increase awareness of the transition.
“This is a significant milestone for the DTV Transition Coalition,” said Jonathan Collegio, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) DTV transition VP. “Through the combined efforts and resources of so many terrific organizations, we are confident we’ll be able to give all Americans the information they need to make informed decisions to assure a successful transition to digital television in February 2009.”
“The DTV Transition Coalition is off to a running start,” said Jason Oxman, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) communications VP. “For years, many of these organizations have led the way in providing DTV education to ensure this transition’s success. Bringing together public and private sector entities in a coordinated fashion will ensure no consumer is left without broadcast television due to lack of information about the transition.”
The coalition warns that millions of households that rely solely on over-the-air television signals are at risk of losing television reception unless they take the necessary steps to receive the digital signal by the Feb. 17, 2009, deadline, when analog TV broadcasting will cease. Millions more households that receive over-the-air signals on secondary TV sets could also be affected.
The coalition estimates that “nearly 96 million consumers who subscribe to a cable or satellite service should continue to receive the broadcast signals through their subscription service, and those who own a television set with a digital tuner will be able to continue watching over- the-air broadcasts.”
According to a mission statement, the privately-funded campaign will use basic marketing and public education strategies to help television viewers better understand the nature of the transition, become educated about the changes that will occur before February 2009, and provide information about steps consumers may need to take to maintain their over-the-air television signals.
Earlier this year, the DTV Transition Coalition launched the www.DTVtransition.org Web site to help consumers learn about their options to navigate the transition to digital television.
The site, which is available in both English and Spanish, provides basic information about the transition and offers links to a wide variety of additional resources to help answer basic questions.
Other efforts underway include the development of printed materials that can be distributed to consumers, and participation by coalition members at public events to help spread the word about the transition.
The coalition is helping to promote and publicize details of the digital-to-analog converter box coupon program, which will be administered by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
A list of DTV Transition Coalition members follows:
1. AARP
2. Affinity Marketing
3. Alabama Broadcasters Association
4. Alaska Broadcasters Association
5. American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
6. American Cable Association (ACA)
7. American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)
8. American Library Association (ALA)
9. Archway Marketing Services
10. Arizona Broadcasters Association
11. Arkansas Broadcasters Association
12. Association for Maximum Service Television (MSTV)*
13. Association of Public Television Stations (APTS)*
14. Audio Quest
15. Best Buy
16. California Broadcasters Association
17. Circuit City
18. Cisco Systems
19. CNET
20. Colorado Broadcasters Association
21. Connecticut Broadcasters Association
22. Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)*
23. Consumer Electronic Retailers Coalition (CERC)*
24. Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA)
25. Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA)
26. Entertainment Industries Council, (EIC)
27. Florida Association of Broadcasters
28. Georgia Association of Broadcasters
29. Greater New Orleans Broadcasters Association (GNOBA)
30. Hawaii Association of Broadcasters
31. High Tech DTV Coalition
32. Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA)
33. Idaho State Broadcasters Association
34. Illinois Broadcasters Association
35. Indiana Broadcasters Association
36. Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC)
37. Iowa Broadcasters Association
38. Kansas Association of Broadcasters
39. Kentucky Broadcasters Association
40. Kinsella/Novak Communications, LLC
41. Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR)*
42. LG Electronics*
43. Louisiana Association of Broadcasters
44. Maine Association of Broadcasters
45. Maryland/D.C./Delaware Broadcasters Association
46. Massachusetts Broadcasters Association
47. Michigan Association of Broadcasters
48. Minnesota Broadcasters Association
49. Mississippi Association of Broadcasters
50. Missouri Broadcasters Association
51. Montana Broadcasters Association
52. National Alliance of State Broadcast Associations (NASBA)
53. National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)*
54. National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA)
55. National Association of Counties (NACo)
56. National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)
57. National Association of Telecommunications and Advisors (NATOA)
58. National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA)*
59. National Coalition of Black Civic Participation
60. National Grocers Association (NGA)
61. National Hispanic Media Coalition
62. National Religious Broadcasters (NRB)
63. Navigant Consulting
64. Nebraska Broadcasters Association
65. Nevada Broadcasters Association
66. New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters
67. New Jersey Broadcasters Association
68. New Mexico Broadcasters Association
69. New York State Broadcasters Association
70. North American Retail Dealers Association (NARDA)
71. North Carolina Association of Broadcasters
72. North Dakota Broadcasters Association
73. Ohio Association of Broadcasters
74. Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters
75. Oregon Association of Broadcasters
76. Panasonic Corporation of North America
77. Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters
78. Plasma Display Coalition
79. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
80. RadioShack
81. Rhode Island Broadcasters Association
82. Samsung Electronics
83. Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA)
84. South Carolina Broadcasters Association
85. South Dakota Broadcasters Association
86. Target
87. Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
88. Tennessee Association of Broadcasters
89. Texas Association of Broadcasters
90. Texas Instruments
91. Thomson
92. TitanTV Media
93. U.S. Chamber of Commerce
94. Utah Broadcasters Association
95. Verizon
96. Vermont Association of Broadcasters97. Virginia Association of Broadcasters
98. Voices of September 11th
99. Wal-Mart
100. Washington State Association of Broadcasters
101. Washington Urban League
102. Wisconsin Broadcasters Association
103. Wyoming Association of Broadcasters
* Founding member of the DTV Transition Coalition
