Critics Blast Digital TV 'Gap' Study
Officials say it's misleading to say the digital switch will deny signals to millions.
By Swanni
Centris this week said roughly six million people with Digital TV receivers may still be unable to watch TV next year when the nation switches to digital.
The nation is scheduled to switch to all-digital signals on February 17, 2009. But Centris said that gaps in broadcast coverage areas could mean that 5.9 million homes would receive fewer channels than they do now.
The group added that viewers who live further away from local station towers -- and/or near mountains and hilly areas -- could be most vulnerable to signal disruption.
Centris said that even viewers who buy Digital TV converters could experience signal issues -- and may be forced to get off-air antennas even if they subscribe to a cable or satellite service.
However, the Association for Maximum Service Television has countered that the study is "misleading" because it was not based on actual signal strengths, writes Mediaweek magazine.
"Consumers needing outdoor antennas for digital reception will need to use the same type of outdoor antenna they now use for analog reception," Donovan said. "It is simply wrong to suggest that DTV service will not be available in areas outside of 30 miles from a DTV broadcast tower," David Donovan, MSTV's president, said in a statement.
In a hearing this week, Martin agreed with the MSTV, saying the study compared today's analog coverage with tomorrow's digital coverage.
But Broadcasting & Cable magazine reports that Centris has responded that Martin and the MSTV is misreading the study.
Barry Goodstadt, senior vice president at Centris, said the study was based on the same assumptions outlined by the MSTV and Martin.
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