Mobile/PDA About Us Advertise here


		User name	Password

		Not registered yet? Register here. Lost your password? Click here.

Browse by topic

News

CES 2008: EchoStar to make DTV converters free after government voucher

8 January 2008 0:37 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 2 comments

On the first day of the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), EchoStar Holding Corp., owner of both the Dish Network satellite television service and place-shifting hardware manufacturer Slingbox has announced that they'll be offering a converter box to consumers to allow their analog TVs to receive Digital TV (DTV) broadcasts after analog TV signals disappear from the airwaves early next year. Although they're joining other manufacturers who are making converter boxes, their boxes are unique in that they can be paid for using nothing but U.S. government vouchers set to be distributed this year. All other converter boxes available to date cost more than the $40 value of each voucher.

Although EchoStar will be losing money on each box sold Charlie Ergen, the company's Chairman and chief executive, is looking at it more in public relations terms. "Maybe they'll just feel good that you helped them with their problem of TV and they feel good about you and they buy something else from you down the road," Ergen said.

Among other things, EchoStar no doubt hopes to generate customer interest in their more advanced products, which will include an upgraded digital to analog converter with a built in DVR. Although these units won't qualify for the government's voucher program the company should benefit from both the increased visibility and potential public goodwill when it comes to selling them.

If you're a U.S. resident and need to request a voucher to purchase a converter you can apply online and find more information about the voucher program at https://www.dtv2009.gov/.

Source: Associated Press

View DVB-T set top boxes in our Hardware section

View DVB-C set top boxes in our Hardware section

View DVB-S set top boxes in our Hardware section

Permalink to this article

US DTV conversion likely to boost cable subscriptions (15 February 2008)

US House and Senate schedule more hearings to assess readiness for DTV transition (2 February 2008)

Survey calls FCC / CEA claims about a smooth DTV transition into question (21 January 2008)

CES 2008: Best Buy head worried about U.S. readiness for DTV transition (10 January 2008)

CES 2008: Panasonic introduces new plasma displays (10 January 2008)

CES 2008: Verbatim updates line of Blu-ray media (10 January 2008)

CES 2008: Blu-ray titles to include PSP version of video (10 January 2008)

CES 2008: Pioneer shows off several DVD writers (10 January 2008)

CES 2008: Manufacturers criticized over design and marketing decisions (9 January 2008)

CES 2008: Microsoft could consider Blu-ray accessory for Xbox 360 (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Sling Media demonstrates Clip+Sling (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Sony shows off OLED TV (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Nero showcasing Nero 8 features at Microsoft booth (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Sling Media shows off SlingCatcher publicly (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Samsung to put 'emphasis' on Blu-ray (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: DivX Connected adds content from Veoh and Vuze (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: HD DVD standalones hit 1 million mark (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Blu-ray camp is already waving signs of victory (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Intel discusses mobile internet devices (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Samsung shows the future of HDTV (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Warner did not violate HD DVD contract (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Panasonic to launch series of YouTube TVs (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Creative adds speaker to Zen Stone line of players (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Studio executives reveal online strategy for coming year (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Westinghouse & Pulse-LINK unveil integrated wireless HDTV (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Comcast CEO to discuss Fancast TV and movie listing service in CES address (8 January 2008)

CES 2008: Microsoft expands Xbox Live VoD offerings (7 January 2008)

CES 2008: SanDisk doubles capacity of Sansa Clip and Sansa View (7 January 2008)

CES 2008: Toshiba introduces first ever HD DVD-R/RW notebook (7 January 2008)

CES 2008: Xbox 360 goes IPTV with new partnership (7 January 2008)

CES 2008: Rhapsody and Philips to team up (7 January 2008)

CES 2008: Sony and Toshiba execs comment on Warner Bros. decision at CES (7 January 2008)

SyncTV shows off proof of concept HD downloads straight to TV (7 January 2008)

Vouchers for DTV converter boxes now available from the U.S. government (3 January 2008)

CEA says news is good for American DTV adoption (28 December 2007)

New - Afterdawn HDTV Buyers Guide (27 December 2007)

New guide on Afterdawn: Getting Started With HDTV (24 December 2007)

FCC blasted again by GAO - this time over DTV transition (16 December 2007)

« Previous news article
CES 2008: Comcast CEO to discuss Fancast TV and movie listing service in CES address

Next news article »
CES 2008: Westinghouse & Pulse-LINK unveil integrated wireless HDTV

Post your comment

Discuss this article!
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 9 January 2008 18:22
Free is always the way to go. This is a great incentive for everyone :) [ + quote]
orion250 (Member) 15 January 2008 21:48
You should be able to use one converter box regardless of how many tv's you have by hooking your coaxial cable from your antenna to the converter box then plugging in a wireless transmitter. For this to work, you would need to connect a wireless receiver to each of your analog tv's. These wireless packages can be found at www.X10.com and are EXTREMELY cheap in price. About $50.00 plus the cost of each additional receiver. That's what I am going to do. [ + quote]