Viewers in the Boston area will be inundated tomorrow with information about the digital television (DTV) transition in the most comprehensive readiness test yet organized by local broadcasters.
On December 9, broadcast television stations and cable providers across Boston are launching a market-wide consumer awareness initiative dubbed "DTV Day," to help viewers determine whether or not their homes are ready for the transition.
All participating stations will conduct three simultaneous analog shut-off tests, each lasting two minutes, at 5:15 a.m., 6:15 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. During each test, consumers whose TV sets are not digital-ready will see a full-screen graphic explaining what steps they need to take.
Additionally, WGBH-TV, the public broadcasting station, will continuously run a 30-minute educational program, called "Get Ready for Digital TV," over its analog signal throughout the day, along with a message and phone number to call for more information. This will allow analog viewers to learn about the DTV transition, check multiple TVs in their homes and even visit a neighbor or family member to help them get ready for DTV.
In support of this effort, every participating media outlet has agreed to run intermittent crawls from 5 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., directing viewers to watch WGBH-TV to determine if their TV sets are ready. The following outlets are participating in DTV Day: WBZ-TV (CBS); WUNI-TV (Univision); WBPX-TV (ION Media Networks); WUTF-TV (Telefutura); WCVB-TV (ABC); WWDP-TV (Shop NBC); WDPX-TV (ION Media Networks); WFXT-TV (FOX); WGBH-TV (PBS); WGBX-TV (PBS); WHDH-TV (NBC); WLVI-TV (CW); WMFP-TV (MTBI); WNEU-TV (Telemundo); WPXG-TV (ION Media Networks); WSBK-TV (IND); Beld Broadband; Charter Communications; Comcast; Duncan Cable; MetroCast; RCN; Southern VT Cable; TDS Cable; Time Warner and Verizon.
The Massachusetts Broadcasters Association and U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey (MA-07), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, helped organize Boston’s DTV Day. All full-power stations must transition exclusively to DTV broadcasting by February 17, 2009.
