DTV leaving seniors behind
National News:We thought this clip from Fox's "Talkshow with Spike Feresten" was an exaggeration, but it turns out that lots of older people are struggling with their converter boxes.
According to the New York Times, more than 6.5 million people who receive over-the-air TV broadcasts still haven't made any preparations for the upcoming transition of full-power signals from analog to digital.
Elderly viewers --- like the woman in the "Talkshow" spoof --- are hurting worst of all. Either they don't know how to get a converter box or don't know how to install them.
In Houston, Texas, "Meals on Wheels" volunteers are checking TVs and installing converter boxes for their mostly older, low-income clients. Some of the people have tried calling toll-free hotlines for help, but can't get through.
The head of the organization that oversees Meals on Wheels in Houston says he's "livid": "Most of them are sitting in front of their TVs. They're watching 'Price Is Right.' They're watching 'Judge Judy.' That's their company."
Readers’ Forum
My grandmother was one of those who watched OTA TV exclusively until she passed on in 1997. She still used her 1962 RCA with no UHF tuner. If she was still alive, I would make sure she was ready for DTV, I would just get her the box and put it on her old RCA.
Charles D. Mandus - January 30, 2009 at 11:29 am
What is not spoken about much is people in rural areas that have limited signal. My Mom has an antenna gets 4 stations analog. Bought a box, gets ZERO now.
Talked to local TV shops they say we can put 200+ into antenna/tower/booster with no promises…..
kevin s - January 31, 2009 at 01:19 am
Digital changeover…what a scam!
Mark La Roi (URL) - February 03, 2009 at 10:42 pm