74% of US consumers digitally confused
February 1, 2008
There is major confusion among US consumers about the looming transition to digital television (DTV), according to a new survey from Consumer Reports National Research Center. Seventy four per cent of respondents who said they were aware of the upcoming transition had serious misconceptions of its impact.
The survey also found that 36 per cent of Americans living in households with TVs are entirely unaware of the government-mandated transition to digital broadcasting slated for February 2009.
“Confusion about the digital television transition will cost consumers a lot of money for equipment they may not want or need,” said Joel Kelsey, policy analyst for Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports. “Based on these survey results, it is now clear that the government and every media company that profits from people watching television must do whatever it takes to make sure consumers will keep getting broadcast TV without paying a dime more than necessary.”