News

Wal-Mart countdown clocks mark the minutes to digital TV deadline

February 10, 2008

On February 17, 2009, analog televisions in the United States will no longer be able to pick up over-the-air signals. Research done by the Nielsen Company says that will affect about 13 million households, or 12 percent of the viewing population.

Converter boxes are already in stores to enable older TVs to make sense of digital content — and Wal-Mart is using countdown clocks to get shoppers ready for the switch.

"Television is changing. Are you ready?" read the signs, which include plain-English explanation of the change and who it does and does not affect. The signs also detail the three options customers have to prevent their screens from going dark: buy a converter box, buy a new TV, or sign up for cable or satellite service.

All three options are, of course, available in-store at Wal-Mart.