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Digital Television Transition
Crafting TV Ads for the Digital Age
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 8:47pmMarketers are already scrambling to figure out how best to adjust their 30-second TV spots for viewing via the web and on iPod screens. But as the nation prepares for the big shift from analog to digital TV on Feb. next year, what could be a major conundrum has opened up for advertisers who love to make use of the wider high-definition screen.
Digital TV Switch Needs Bill Cosby
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 8:44pmMeredith Attwell Baker is the acting head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Commerce Department unit responsible for overseeing next year's transition to digital signals.
Study: 91% of Hispanics Aware of DTV Transition
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 8:43pmThe vast majority of broadcast-only Hispanic TV households are aware of the digital-TV transition, up from less than one-third of those households that were aware of the transition last fall.
Rep Boucher: DTV Transition Needs Technical Assistance Component
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 22, 2008 - 3:24pmRep Rick Boucher (D-VA) said that the government's digital television transition plan does not provide any money for new DTV antennas and lacks a technical assistance component, which could prove to be a problem for some viewers still connected to rabbit ears.
CEA Opposes Waiver For DTA Devices
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 22, 2008 - 3:18pmThe Consumer Electronics Association said Evolution Broadband’s digital-to-analog cable converters should not be granted an exception to the Federal Communication Commission’s separable-security mandate, alleging in a filing with the agency that such a waiver would “harm the public interest.” Evolution Broadband in May asked the FCC for a three-year waiver to the agency’s separable security mandate.
Senate Clears Way For More DTV Funds
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 20, 2008 - 2:58pmIn an amendment to the Deficit Reduction Act, the Senate decided to 1) free up "leftover funds" from the DTV-to-analog converter box program to help assist senior citizens minorities and rural viewers in preparing for and making the transition and 2) make funding available to help low-power broadcasters make the switch to digital.
House Committee OKs Advance Funds for Public Broadcasting
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 20, 2008 - 7:48amLast updated: June 20, 2008 - 7:49am
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education [Labor-HHS for those of you abbreviating at home] approved the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bill that provides funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a $430 million advance appropriation for FY 2011, as well as $40 million for digital conversion and $27 million for the public radio interconnection system for FY 2009.
FCC: Cable Nets Can't Fight Dual Carriage Rule
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 20, 2008 - 7:45amThe six cable networks that have mounted a judicial challenge to a new federal rule on the carriage of some digital TV stations have no legal standing to attack the rule in federal court, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
Study: consumers lust after high-speed broadband, not HDTV
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 20, 2008 - 7:44amBroadband services and speeds are ranked higher than any other "new" service when it comes to their importance to consumers. New survey results from Pike & Fischer Broadband Advisory Services show that while HDTV and digital phone service were important to some consumers, high-speed data came out ahead of the rest.
Consumer Reports DTV Converter Box Ratings
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 20, 2008 - 7:43amConsumer Reports has reviewed and rated digital-to-analog converter box and the news is good: some of the cheaper DTV converter boxes now on the market work just as well or even better than more expensive models.
