Browse by topic

News

Zenith creates desktop countdown to US DTV transition

29 July 2008 16:34 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 10 comments

Zenith has already shipped more than 1 million DTV converter boxes to retailers across the US. Today they announced a deal to sell more of their $60 through K-Mart.

"Today, we're pleased to announce that K Mart has joined the list of large retailers now carrying the Zenith DTT901, a remarkable product no bigger than a hardback book that can bring the wonders of digital TV broadcasting even to the oldest of analog TV sets," said Zenith Senior VP Richard Lewis.

"Sales to retailers have already exceeded a million units at a wide assortment of stores, from national retailers Circuit City and RadioShack to regional dealers such as Fry's, h.h.Gregg, Abt Electronics, Brandsmart, PC Richard, Nebraska Furniture Mart and others," Lewis said, adding that production is increasing to meet the growing demand.

With just over 200 days remaining before the mandatory shutoff of nearly all analog TV signals in the US they're also offering a new widget for Google Desktop and Yahoo Widgets. Called the DTV Countdown Clock, it's a timer that counts down the number of days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the official cutover on February 17, 2009.

Permalink to this article

US consumers play game of find the DTV converter (8 August 2008)

Google begins offering free, legal music in China (7 August 2008)

UK DTV transition - same problems different country (27 June 2008)

GAO report highlights potential for trouble in US DTV transition (11 June 2008)

FCC finally schedules a test for DTV transition (9 May 2008)

FCC dishes out millions in fines related to DTV transition (13 April 2008)

Study: 59 percent of Americans are aware of DTV transition (26 March 2008)

« Previous news article
Panasonic preparing 40 inch OLED TVs?

Next news article »
IFPI unapologetic after improper DMCA takedown

Post your comment

Discuss this article!
hankchill (Newbie) 29 July 2008 16:54
What kind of news is this? We already know about the analog TV cutoff, it's pointless to let us know "ohh there's a counter now you can download and waste some desktop space!". Sorry, but there's free websites where we can make counters ourselves. This is a pointless newspost. [ + quote]
varnull (AfterDawn Addict) 29 July 2008 17:19
And what about the digital coverage? DTV signals don't cope well in "fringe" areas, where analog is just about acceptable most days a digital signal will be unusable (I'm talking from experience here.. I live in a poor reception hole.. with bad co-channel interference from a couple of sources) When DTV broadcasting works it's great, but when your reception is marginal due to distance or local conditions it's intolerable. Wait for the kicking off from all those rural users who live 40 or more miles from their local transmitter and currently put up with marginal analog reception.. I can see some very red faces in government this time next year. [ + quote]
engage16 (Member) 30 July 2008 0:13
I'm in the same boat... I live around 60 miles give or take from the nearest stations... Analog comes in no problem but digital comes in like s**t... I get one station instead of 12!?!?! [ + quote]
7thsinger (AfterDawn Addict) 30 July 2008 0:17
*Originally posted by engage16:* I'm in the same boat... I live around 60 miles give or take from the nearest stations... Analog comes in no problem but digital comes in like s**t... I get one station instead of 12!?!?! Same here. I've got one channel now, which does not bother me so much as the lady of the house. Learn To Backup DVDs Here And Here. [ + quote]
rvinkebob (Member) 30 July 2008 0:49
Hurray for Canada! Four more years to go! [ + quote]
1bonehead (Senior Member) 30 July 2008 6:01
*Originally posted by rvinkebob:* Hurray for Canada! Four more years to go! Don't rub it in as I'm in the US. The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above! The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX. [ + quote]
SProdigy (Member) 30 July 2008 16:42
Well fellas, I live a half mile from two different towers and no more than 1.5 miles from my local NBC affiliate. I recently purchased DirecTV's OTA AM-21 device, so I could get my digital HD locals integrated into DirecTV service. Let's just say that indoor "rabbit ear" antennas aren't going to get the job done anymore. Because of the close proximity of the CBS/FOX and ABC towers, it drowned out the NBC signal. Yes, it would come in, but usually with heavy pixelation, to the point where it was unwatchable, and this is at no less than 50% signal from a tower 1.5 miles away! Fortunately for me, the house I just purchased still had the good old UHF/VHF antenna hookup outside, and all it took was a wire run to my AM-21 OTA tuner to fix my situation. Now the broadcasts come in flawless. My next step is to hopefully beef up my equipment, since I live 60 miles or less from 3 other metro areas, and hopefully can pick up their OTA broadcasts as well (esp for NFL games!) For those who have this luxury, it's icing on the cake, however... I cannot begin to imagine the nightmares this will cause for those without access to outdoor antennas, or where reception is weak due to distance or line of sight. My uncle cannot get ANY of his digital channels to come in without pixelation, off his indoor "powered" antenna, and he's only a 15 minute drive away. [ + quote]
theridges (AfterDawn Addict) 30 July 2008 16:48
Everybody complaining should understand that when everything goes digital the broadcast are going to be much stronger..... [ + quote]
1bonehead (Senior Member) 30 July 2008 21:40
*Originally posted by theridges:* Everybody complaining should understand that when everything goes digital the broadcast are going to be much stronger..... We hope. The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above! The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX. [ + quote]
Mr-Movies (Member) 2 August 2008 16:00
Digital is much stronger I get long distant signals much better then analog ones. Go DTV wish they would have transitioned earlier as they intended too. This countdown is sooooo lame lets get a life here and quit crying about it! [ + quote]