TV Makers Struggle To Meet Mandate For Digital Tuners By Drew Clark National Journal
Friday, August 4 http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-TOHW1155047168843.html Electronics manufacturers made marked strides in putting digital tuners in their television sets within the past year but fell short of the FCC requirement that 100 percent of all televisions 25 inches and bigger include tuners. Additionally, retailers and television manufacturers did not adequately warn customers that sets without digital tuners will not receive over-the-air broadcasts once analog broadcasting stops Feb. 17, 2009. A survey of two leading electronics retailers this week by Technology Daily found 72 percent of the sets for sale at Best Buy included digital tuners, while 83 percent at Circuit City did. The survey included set size, tuner status, price and presence of an advisory label on each of the 173 televisions offered for sale at the Best Buy outlet in Tyson's Corner, Va. There were 155 televisions for sale at the Tyson's Corner Circuit City Outlet. Technology Daily conducted a similar survey in 2004 and 2005 at the same stores, as well as online. Congress this year set February 2009 as the cut-off date for the transition from analog to digital television broadcasting. The 85 percent of U.S. households that subscribe to cable and satellite services are not likely to be affected by the change. But the FCC in 2003 began to require that all televisions manufactured or imported into the United States include tuners. On July 1, 2004, 50 percent of all sets 36 inches and greater were to have tuners. On July 1, 2005, 100 percent of those sets, and 50 percent of mid-sized sets -- 25 inches to 35 inches -- were to have the tuners. The FCC originally set a 100-percent deadline for all sets 25 inches and greater for July 1, 2006. However, in June 2005 it shifted that deadline to March 1, 2006. The Consumer Electronics Association had been wary of trying to meet a 50-percent deadline last year but urged the FCC to accelerate the other deadline. All sets 13 inches or greater must have tuners by March 1, 2007. At Best Buy, 73 percent, or 93 of the 128 mid-sized and large-screen sets, included over-the-air tuners. The percentage was 86 percent, or 42 of 49 of the mid-sized units. Only 65 percent, or 51 of 79 of the large-screen units, included tuners. A significant portion of the relatively low percentage for large-screen units reflects that Best Buy sells extremely few home-theater sets that are 60 inches or larger with over-the-air tuners. Only 21 percent, or three of 14 home theaters, included tuners. The prices of the sets ran up to $7,599, and most buyers would be likely to purchase cable or satellite services. Further, a plugged-in digital cable card also would include an over-the-air digital tuner. At the Circuit City store, 83 percent, or 90 of 108 mid-sized and large-screen sets, had over-the-air tuners. For mid-sized sets, the figure was 74 percent, or 40 of 54. For large-screen sets, the figure was 93 percent, or 50 of 54. ================================ George Antunes, Political Science Dept University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204 Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927 antunes at uh dot edu Reply with a "Thank you" if you liked this post. _____________________________ MEDIANEWS mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
