With next year’s transition to digital television, some seniors may need to take steps to continue watching their favorite programs. To ease the transition, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has launched a “Convert Your Mom” public awareness campaign that encourages baby boomers to help their elderly parents. CAREGivers working with clients who have analog television may also want to share this information with them.

TV stations will switch to 100 percent digital broadcasting on February 17, 2009.

The CEA has enlisted actress Florence Henderson, best known for her role as Carol Brady on “The Brady Bunch,” to help with the campaign. Henderson will host a satellite media tour in early May, and the campaign also will feature a special downloadable guide and tips for getting ready for the digital transition (for more information, visit the online site at www.digitaltips.com.)

“CEA’s member companies have filled retail stores with a wide assortment of affordable digital TV products, from low-cost digital televisions to converter boxes and antennas that are easy to hook up to existing analog TV sets,” said Gary Shapiro, CEA’s president and CEO.

The campaign will remind viewers who rely on an antenna or an analog TV set for reception of their alternatives:

·         Buy a new TV with a built-in digital tuner;

·         Subscribe to a pay-TV service like cable or satellite TV; or,

·         Purchase an affordable digital TV converter box to receive over-the-air digital TV signals and convert them for analog viewing.

 

The U.S. Department of Commerce is distributing $40 discount coupons for use toward digital converter boxes. Information on how to apply for a coupon is available at https://www.dtv2009.gov/.