CEA Applauds Proposed Early Transition To All-Digital TV In Wilmington, NC

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today announced that the Wilmington, North Carolina, television market will complete its migration to digital television five months before the rest of the nation converts to DTV on February 17, 2009. The FCC concluded that on September 8, 2008, full-power commercial television broadcasters in Wilmington, North Carolina will have completed all the necessary steps to finalize their transition to digital.

“The digital television transition is on time and on track, and the FCC’s conclusion that the nation’s 135th television market in Wilmington is ready to transition early proves this,” said Jason Oxman, senior vice president, Industry Affairs, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®. “There are many easy and affordable digital TV options for any pocketbook – from low-cost digital TV sets to very affordable converter boxes. CEA, together with its industry and government partners, is committed to getting the word out about these options to consumers in Wilmington and nationwide.”

For over a decade, CEA has been educating consumers, retailers, manufacturers and legislators about the transition to digital television. CEA’s ongoing award-winning efforts include websites, printed collateral and media outreach. To reach consumers, CEA currently operates websites that provide information about the DTV transition - www.DigitalTips.org and www.AntennaWeb.org, (in partnership with NAB) and has launched the Convert Your Mom public education campaign featuring Florence Henderson. CEA produced a “DTV 101” video for consumers that explains the transition and provides technical information on digital television and converter boxes, and CEA has worked with retailers, broadcasters and other stakeholders to distribute the video widely to consumers. CEA is also a founding member of the DTV Transition Coalition (www.DTVtransition.org), which works to ensure educational materials reach a broad audience.