dtv transition

(The Joy Of The Mundane)

Charter Spreads Misinformation, Hopes You Forgot How 2009 DTV Transition Worked

By 11.12.12

When a company or an individual spreads misinformation, we like to think that it’s out of ignorance instead of greed or malice. Such as the Charter Cable customer service representative who told reader Paul that he shouldn’t cancel his cable because later this year, over-the-air broadcasts will end and he will need cable or satellite service to keep watching TV.

This might be a great argument for convincing people not to cancel their cable. The problem is that it is not, strictly speaking, true. [More]

From The Archive: DTV Transition Flowchart For Those Of You Who Are Still Confused

From The Archive: DTV Transition Flowchart For Those Of You Who Are Still Confused

By 6.12.09

Back in December we posted this easy to follow flowchart that should help to eliminate any remaining confusion about today’s DTV transition. Enjoy.

Brace Yourself For Tonight's DTV Transition

Brace Yourself For Tonight's DTV Transition

By 6.12.09

Analog television broadcasts end tonight at 11:59 PM. Are you ready? Are you tired of hearing about this yet? If you’ve put off buying a digital converter box, or you want to use the transition as an excuse to buy a shiny new TV, Consumer Reports is here to show you how to choose the awesomest model you can find.

Three Million People Are "Totally Unprepared" For The Digital Transition

Three Million People Are "Totally Unprepared" For The Digital Transition

By consumeristcarey 6.6.09

We all know the switch to digital transition is next Friday, June 12. Most of us already have cable, or satellite, or digital converters. But not three million Americans, who according to Nielsen, are still “totally unprepared for the transition and will lose their reception.”

Cablevision Takes Away Analog Stations Before DTV Transition, Confuses Customers

Cablevision Takes Away Analog Stations Before DTV Transition, Confuses Customers

By 5.22.09

Joe works at a Radio Shack store on Long Island. Lately, the combination of the digital TV transition and some recent lineup changes at local cable TV provider Cablevision has Joe concerned, since he has both a conscience and a brain, and is an avid Consumerist reader.

2 Hrs, 25 Min On Hold Just To Get A Busted DTV Converter

2 Hrs, 25 Min On Hold Just To Get A Busted DTV Converter

By Ben Popken 2.26.09

All told, reader Sam sat on hold with the Fuai Corporation for 2 hours and 25 minutes only to end up with a DTV box with a busted-up face that didn’t even have the analog pass-through feature he paid for. That could be a problem if he still wants to watch his local PBS affiliate station…

Hundreds Confused As Hawaii Transitions To Digital

By consumeristcarey 1.18.09

Hawaii last week became the first state to transition to digital television, leading hundreds of confused locals to call into the FCC’s help center. Though the transition appears to have been a technical success, the new digital signals mays never reach some of the 20,000 Hawaiians who rely on analog service.

DTV Transition Poised To Beffudle Senior Citizens

DTV Transition Poised To Beffudle Senior Citizens

By Ben Popken 1.14.09

Some citizens are more at risk for confusion during the digital TV transition coming up this February, especially senior citizens, who may experience debilitating Murder She Wrote reruns loss, as this humorous video illustrates.

Consumers Union Asks Congress To Delay Digital Broadcast TV Switch

Consumers Union Asks Congress To Delay Digital Broadcast TV Switch

By 1.7.09

Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports and, um, brand-spanking-new owner of Consumerist, the blog that you are reading right now, is asking Congress to delay the DTV switch until “until a plan is in place to minimize the number of consumers who will lose TV signals, particularly by fixing the flaws in the federal coupon program.” Why are they doing this? Well, the coupon program has already run out of money. Read the letter inside.

Circuit City Calls The Cops On Customer Who Tried To Redeem $40 DTV Coupon

Circuit City Calls The Cops On Customer Who Tried To Redeem $40 DTV Coupon

By consumeristcarey 6.22.08

Circuit City wouldn’t let Larry redeem his $40 digital transition converter box coupon unless he signed a credit slip agreeing to pay $40. Larry refused, and asked to cancel the transaction. Circuit City’s manager responded by calling the police before following Larry into the parking lot to write down his license plate number.

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

By consumeristcarey 4.20.08

Cablevision responded to our post chastising their attempt to force customer to upgrade to digital service by pointing to an unrelated FCC mandate. Cablevision admits that there is no connection between their unilateral business decision to cut channels and the FCC-mandated transition to digital television, but their statement leaves several questions unanswered. Read Cablevision’s statement and our response, after the jump.

Cablevision Blatantly Lies To Subscribers As The FCC Twiddles Its Thumbs

Cablevision Blatantly Lies To Subscribers As The FCC Twiddles Its Thumbs

By consumeristcarey 4.19.08

Update: Cablevision responds.

5 Reasons To Fret Over DTV Coupons

5 Reasons To Fret Over DTV Coupons

By consumeristcarey 1.13.08

The federal government continues to bungle the transition to digital television, this time by making it difficult for consumers to redeem subsidy coupons for DTV converter boxes.

FCC Regulators Sing, Make Fun Of Our Woeful Unpreparedness For DTV Transition

FCC Regulators Sing, Make Fun Of Our Woeful Unpreparedness For DTV Transition

By consumeristcarey 12.26.07

Meet The Singing Regulators. Regular FCC employees by day, these mellifluous regulators spend their nights performing humorous sendups inspired by the Commission’s work. Their latest song pokes fun at the FCC‘s utter failure to prepare the nation for the planned February 2009 transition to digital television.