DTV Day is closing in. Are you ready?
The Feb. 17 launch of digital television is quickly approaching.
Are you ready?
Thousands of homes in the area still aren't ready, according to two tests conducted Nov. 12 and on Wednesday. They're still using the old-time roof antennae for TV reception.
"We're expecting a small group of people who will procrastinate to the end and could be left in the dark," said Dennis Lyle, president and CEO of the Illinois Broadcasters Association.
The tests were arranged with local stations, which broke into their regular analog programming. If you were able to read that message, then your TV wasn't ready for DTV. About 15,000 people during the November test had called the number posted on their screen to get information on what to do, said Lyle.
Although Wednesday's results aren't in yet, he estimates that they received about half the number of calls.
"We're optimistic that those numbers are going down," he said.
The National Association of Broadcasters said that they're planning to establish a hotline in January to reach those procrastinators, said NAB spokeswoman Shermaze Ingram.
She said about 34 million households nationwide are still unprepared.
In August, we wrote about the start of a nationwide campaign by the Federal Communications Commission and local broadcasting groups to encourage home viewers to get ready. About 400 markets, including Chicago, have been undergoing tests at various times this year.
The campaign also includes a federally funded program where you could get a $40 coupon toward the purchase of a converter box to convert your old analog TV so it can receive digital signals.
Starting Feb. 17, all analog signals will disappear and only digital TV signals will remain. So if you don't have a new TV that is digital ready, or subscribe to cable or satellite services, you won't be able to view your favorite TV programs.
Still need to buy a converter box and get $40 off? The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has been issuing the coupons for DTV converters. Call 1-888-DTV-2009 or visit DTV2009.gov.
Need a nudge to transition to all digital TV? Take a look at the NAB's Web site called DTVAnswers.com.
Surfing: There's still time to "elf yourself" at www.elfyourself.com. The popular site where you can upload your own photo onto dancing elves and e-mail it to your family and friends is once again hosted by Naperville-based Office Max.
• Chicago-based BringIt LLC said that the company's flagship service, BringIt, has opened its doors to consumers and is inviting gamers to be a part of the BringIt open beta. BringIt is a leading online site at www.BringIt.com, where video gamers can put up money to challenge other players to matches, play their favorite games, and earn prize money by winning