2.8m US homes not ready for switchover
June 12, 2009
In its final update before the June 12th, 2009 deadline for converting all full-powered US television stations to digital transmission, The Nielsen Company reported that 2.8 million American households, or 2.5 per cent of the television market, are completely unready for the transition. Younger, African American and Hispanic homes are disproportionately unready, while the elderly are the most ready.
"Since February, when the US government postponed the transition for three months, the number of households that are completely unready has been cut in half – from 5.8 million to 2.8 million homes," said Sara Erichson, President Media Client Services, The Nielsen Company. "Given the importance that television plays in the day-to-day life of most people, we expect that most of the remaining unready homes will take the necessary steps to get ready once the stations make the final switch to digital transmission."