OTA TV viewers the least aware about analogue switch off

Nearly half of U.S. households are aware of the February 2009 transition to digital TV, but the group of Americans with the least awareness of the analogue switch-off include those who are most affected, namely households that receive over-the-air (OTA) television.
Results of a survey from the CTAM Pulse, a nationwide poll of more than 1000 U.S. consumers conducted by the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM), in November found that 48 percent of U.S. households are aware of the DTV transition, compared to 29 percent from a survey taken in July 2005.
The USA adopted the ATSC’s 8-VSB DTV modulation scheme at the end 1996 to provide DTV services in the USA.
While a recent report by the government accountability office (GAO) recognised the efforts by the public and private sectors and their ongoing coordination, it went on to say that the lack of a comprehensive plan makes digital switchover a risky proposition and raises potential problems such as misinformation and a failure to reach all analogue households.
The CTAM Pulse report indicates that only one fifth (17%) of the total US households (over 19 million homes) rely on Over The Air (OTA) TV as their primary source of programme input and that 21% use it as a secondary service. The remaining population rely on satellite and cable to deliver their primary TV programme input.
The report can be accessed by clicking on the following link: Ctam.com
Item added: 17th December 2007