Nielsen Wire » digital switch

98.9% Of American Homes Able To Receive DTV

Nielsen Wire — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:05:50 +0000

The Nielsen Company reported today that 98.9 percent of U.S. homes are able to receive digital television signals, a gain of 229,000 homes in the last two weeks and 1.3 million homes since the week of the June 12 DTV transition. As of July 26, only 1.2 million homes were unable to receive digital signals.

% Of Homes Completely Unready For DTV

Date	Total	White	African American	Hispanic	Asian	Under 35	Over 55
July 26, 2009	1.1	0.8	2.2	1.6	1.3	2.7	0.4
July 12, 2009	1.3	1.0	2.6	2.2	1.9	3.2	0.5
June 28, 2009	1.5	1.1	3.5	2.3	2.5	3.5	0.6
June 21, 2009	1.8	1.3	4.0	2.8	2.9	4.0	0.8
June 14, 2009	2.2	1.6	4.6	3.6	3.2	4.4	1.1
June 7, 2009	2.5	1.9	5.1	4.3	3.1	4.6	1.3
May 24, 2009	2.7	2.1	5.4	4.7	3.2	5.0	1.5
May 10, 2009	2.9	2.3	5.7	4.9	3.4	5.4	1.6
April 26, 2009	3.1	2.4	5.9	5.0	4.1	5.7	1.7
April 12, 2009	3.2	2.5	5.9	5.4	4.3	5.9	1.7
March 29, 2009	3.4	2.7	6.2	5.6	4.4	6.3	1.8
March 15, 2009	3.6	2.9	6.6	6.1	4.4	6.5	2.0
March 1, 2009	3.9	3.2	6.7	6.5	4.5	7.2	2.2
February 15, 2009	4.4	3.6	7.5	7.4	5.1	8.1	2.6
February 1, 2009	5.1	4.1	8.7	8.5	6.3	8.6	3.2
January 18, 2009	5.7	4.6	9.9	9.7	6.9	8.8	4.0
December 21, 2008	6.8	5.6	10.8	11.5	8.1	9.9	5.2
Source: The Nielsen Company

For additional information including a market-by-market breakdown, download Nielsen’s latest DTV media release.

200K U.S. Homes Have Upgraded to Digital Since June 28

Nielsen Wire — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:58:10 +0000

The Nielsen Company reported today 200,000 homes have upgraded to digital television in the last two weeks. In the month following the June 12 government-mandated digital TV transition, more than a million homes have made the switch. This recent improvement leaves 1.5 million American households, or 1.3% of the U.S., unable to receive digital television signals through the week ending July 12.

% Of Homes Completely Unready For DTV

Date	Total	White	African American	Hispanic	Asian	Under 35	Over 55
July 12, 2009	1.3	1.0	2.6	2.2	1.9	3.2	0.5
June 28, 2009	1.5	1.1	3.5	2.3	2.5	3.5	0.6
June 21, 2009	1.8	1.3	4.0	2.8	2.9	4.0	0.8
June 14, 2009	2.2	1.6	4.6	3.6	3.2	4.4	1.1
June 7, 2009	2.5	1.9	5.1	4.3	3.1	4.6	1.3
May 24, 2009	2.7	2.1	5.4	4.7	3.2	5.0	1.5
May 10, 2009	2.9	2.3	5.7	4.9	3.4	5.4	1.6
April 26, 2009	3.1	2.4	5.9	5.0	4.1	5.7	1.7
April 12, 2009	3.2	2.5	5.9	5.4	4.3	5.9	1.7
March 29, 2009	3.4	2.7	6.2	5.6	4.4	6.3	1.8
March 15, 2009	3.6	2.9	6.6	6.1	4.4	6.5	2.0
March 1, 2009	3.9	3.2	6.7	6.5	4.5	7.2	2.2
February 15, 2009	4.4	3.6	7.5	7.4	5.1	8.1	2.6
February 1, 2009	5.1	4.1	8.7	8.5	6.3	8.6	3.2
January 18, 2009	5.7	4.6	9.9	9.7	6.9	8.8	4.0
December 21, 2008	6.8	5.6	10.8	11.5	8.1	9.9	5.2
Source: The Nielsen Company

For additional information including a market-by-market breakdown, download Nielsen’s latest DTV media release.

800,000 Homes Have Upgraded to DTV Since June 12 Transition

Nielsen Wire — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:34:46 +0000

Since the June 12 switch to digital television, more than 800,000 homes have readied themselves to receive digital broadcasts. As 400,000 new homes upgraded in the last week, this now leaves only 1.7 million, or 1.5%, of U.S. homes classified as “completely unready” for digital TV.

% Of Homes Completely Unready For DTV

Date	Total	White	African American	Hispanic	Asian	Under 35	Over 55
June 28, 2009	1.5	1.1	3.5	2.3	2.5	3.5	0.6
June 21, 2009	1.8	1.3	4.0	2.8	2.9	4.0	0.8
June 14, 2009	2.2	1.6	4.6	3.6	3.2	4.4	1.1
June 7, 2009	2.5	1.9	5.1	4.3	3.1	4.6	1.3
May 24, 2009	2.7	2.1	5.4	4.7	3.2	5.0	1.5
May 10, 2009	2.9	2.3	5.7	4.9	3.4	5.4	1.6
April 26, 2009	3.1	2.4	5.9	5.0	4.1	5.7	1.7
April 12, 2009	3.2	2.5	5.9	5.4	4.3	5.9	1.7
March 29, 2009	3.4	2.7	6.2	5.6	4.4	6.3	1.8
March 15, 2009	3.6	2.9	6.6	6.1	4.4	6.5	2.0
March 1, 2009	3.9	3.2	6.7	6.5	4.5	7.2	2.2
February 15, 2009	4.4	3.6	7.5	7.4	5.1	8.1	2.6
February 1, 2009	5.1	4.1	8.7	8.5	6.3	8.6	3.2
January 18, 2009	5.7	4.6	9.9	9.7	6.9	8.8	4.0
December 21, 2008	6.8	5.6	10.8	11.5	8.1	9.9	5.2
Source: The Nielsen Company

400,000 U.S. Homes Became Ready For DTV Since June 12

Nielsen Wire — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:33:52 +0000

Nielsen’s second update since the country’s June 12^th conversion to digital television has reported that 2.1 million American households, or 1.8 percent of the television market, were unable to receive digital television signals through the week ending June 21. This is an improvement of 400,000 homes since the week of the June 12 DTV transition.

% of Homes Completely Unready

Date	Total	White	African American	Hispanic	Asian	Under 35	Over 55
June 21, 2009	1.8	1.3	4.0	2.8	2.9	4.0	0.8
June 14, 2009	2.2	1.6	4.6	3.6	3.2	4.4	1.1
June 7, 2009	2.5	1.9	5.1	4.3	3.1	4.6	1.3
May 24, 2009	2.7	2.1	5.4	4.7	3.2	5.0	1.5
May 10, 2009	2.9	2.3	5.7	4.9	3.4	5.4	1.6
April 26, 2009	3.1	2.4	5.9	5.0	4.1	5.7	1.7
April 12, 2009	3.2	2.5	5.9	5.4	4.3	5.9	1.7
March 29, 2009	3.4	2.7	6.2	5.6	4.4	6.3	1.8
March 15, 2009	3.6	2.9	6.6	6.1	4.4	6.5	2.0
March 1, 2009	3.9	3.2	6.7	6.5	4.5	7.2	2.2
February 15, 2009	4.4	3.6	7.5	7.4	5.1	8.1	2.6
February 1, 2009	5.1	4.1	8.7	8.5	6.3	8.6	3.2
January 18, 2009	5.7	4.6	9.9	9.7	6.9	8.8	4.0
December 21, 2008	6.8	5.6	10.8	11.5	8.1	9.9	5.2
Source: The Nielsen Company

Read the complete media alert with market-by-market breakdown.

2.5 Million Homes Remain Without DTV After The Transition

Nielsen Wire — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:49:38 +0000

In Nielsen’s first update after the country’s June 12, 2009 conversion to digital television, 2.5 million American households, or 2.2 percent of the television market could not receive digital television signals through the week ending June 14. These numbers reflect an improvement of 300,000 homes since June 7, the most recent date for which Nielsen reported readiness numbers.

% OF HOMES COMPLETELY UNREADY

Date	Total	White	African American	Hispanic	Asian	Under 35	Over 55
June 14, 2009	2.2	1.6	4.6	3.6	3.2	4.4	1.1
June 7, 2009	2.5	1.9	5.1	4.3	3.1	4.6	1.3
May 24, 2009	2.7	2.1	5.4	4.7	3.2	5.0	1.5
May 10, 2009	2.9	2.3	5.7	4.9	3.4	5.4	1.6
April 26, 2009	3.1	2.4	5.9	5.0	4.1	5.7	1.7
April 12, 2009	3.2	2.5	5.9	5.4	4.3	5.9	1.7
March 29, 2009	3.4	2.7	6.2	5.6	4.4	6.3	1.8
March 15, 2009	3.6	2.9	6.6	6.1	4.4	6.5	2.0
March 1, 2009	3.9	3.2	6.7	6.5	4.5	7.2	2.2
February 15, 2009	4.4	3.6	7.5	7.4	5.1	8.1	2.6
February 1, 2009	5.1	4.1	8.7	8.5	6.3	8.6	3.2
January 18, 2009	5.7	4.6	9.9	9.7	6.9	8.8	4.0
December 21, 2008	6.8	5.6	10.8	11.5	8.1	9.9	5.2
Source: The Nielsen Company

Read the complete media alert with market-by-market breakdown.

9.6 Million U.S. Households Still Unready For Digital TV

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:02:02 +0000

Just four months ahead of the nationwide transition to digital TV, more than 9 million U.S. households — 8.4% of all homes — remain unready for the switch to all-digital broadcasting, Nielsen reported Wednesday.

If the transition occurred today, those 9.6 million homes would unable to receive any television programming, while another 12.6 million households would have at least one television set that would no longer work.

In all, one in five U.S. households are either partially or completely unready for the government-mandated switch to digital programming that will occur on February 17, 2009.

Demographic Trends
Households headed by less educated, lower income, and blue collar workers are least prepared for the digital transition, according to Nielsen. Those whose total annual household income is less than $25,000 per year are five times more likely to be unprepared than households earning more than $75,000.

Older, white households are better prepared than their younger, African American, Asian, or Hispanic counterparts. Thirteen percent of Hispanic households remain completely unready for the transition, as do 12.5% of African American households.

Geographic Trends
Among the 56 local markets Nielsen measures with electronic meters, Houston has the largest percentage (15.8%) of households that remain completely unready for the transition to digital TV. In contrast, the Ft. Myers, Florida market, with only 2.4% of homes unready, is best prepared for the switch.

Least Prepared Local Markets
Rank	Market	% Households Currently Unprepared for Digital Conversion
1	Houston	15.8%
2	Dallas-Ft. Worth	14.3%
3	Tulsa	14.1%
4	Salt Lake City	13.4%
5	Milwaukee	13.3%
Source: The Nielsen Company (May 1, 2008 – September 1, 2008).

Most Prepared Local Markets
Rank	Market	% Households Currently Unprepared for Digital Conversion
1	Ft. Myers-Naples	2.4%
2	Hartford & New Haven	2.6%
3	West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce	3.2%
4	Atlanta	3.3%
5	Philadelphia	3.7%
Source: The Nielsen Company (May 1, 2008 – September 1, 2008).

View complete data on digital preparedness in Nielsen’s 56 top local metered markets and 154 local diary markets.

Read Nielsen’s complete report on digital readiness in the U.S.

View the full press release.

Go behind the data: read NielsenWire’s Q&A with Steve McGowan, co-author of Nielsen’s most recent report on the transition to digital TV.

Read coverage of Nielsen’s findings on Bloomberg and in TV Week, Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News, Radio Business Report, and Mediaweek.

Behind The Data: Are Americans Ready For Digital TV?

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:00:55 +0000

With the nationwide transition to digital TV in the U.S. just four months away, more than 9 million U.S. households remain unready for the switch to all-digital broadcasting, according to Nielsen.

NielsenWire recently spoke with the co-author of Nielsen’s most recent report on the transition to digital TV, Steve McGowan, Senior Vice President, Insights and Client Research Initiatives, Nielsen.

NielsenWire: How has digital preparedness changed since Nielsen’s last report this past spring?

Steve McGowan:
Not all that much. Since last May, when 9.8% of homes were “completely unready,” the number has dropped by just 1.4 percentage points — to 8.4%.

NielsenWire: So, how prepared are Americans for the switch to digital TV?

Steve McGowan:
The digital transition in American homes is happening at a casual rate: more than 9 million homes – that’s 8.4% of all U.S. homes – are still completely unready.

Spanish-language broadcast networks are still more vulnerable: 26% of tuning to these networks is done on “unready TV sets” — compared to 15% for English-language broadcast networks.

“Unready sets” are disproportionately found in the kitchen or secondary bedroom, as opposed to the living room or master bedroom, and may not get “upgraded” by February – or ever.

NielsenWire: Which demographics are most — and least — prepared for the transition to digital TV?

Steve McGowan:
Readiness rates are correlated with household income and head of household education. Overall, we found that a larger proportion of “unready” homes are African American (12.5%) and Hispanic (13.0%). Homes where Spanish is the primary language are most “unready” for the digital transition.

Perhaps surprisingly to some, readiness rates are higher in older households. Some might expect older people to be less ready for the digital transition, but in fact, they are better prepared, on average.

NielsenWire: What findings, if any, surprised you?

Steve McGowan:
With all the attention given to the coupon program for external digital tuner boxes, to date only one-fourth of the sets that were “upgraded” has one of these boxes. As the transition date approaches, however, more homes may find this to be a better – and lower-cost — option than replacing the set altogether, or signing up for cable or satellite access.

NielsenWire: Why is this report still important?

Steve McGowan:
This series of reports tracks how Americans are responding to the conversion process. Given the nation’s current economic turmoil, Americans may face additional financial hurdles in replacing or converting unready sets — we’ll be tracking that, as well. As February 17 approaches, Nielsen will step up our reporting to better anticipate how viewing will be affected by the switch.

Get the latest data on digital readiness in the U.S.

Read Nielsen’s complete report on digital readiness in the U.S.

View complete data on digital preparedness in Nielsen’s 56 top local metered markets and 154 local diary markets.

Nielsen Studies First Digital TV Switch In Wilmington

admin — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:50:14 +0000

On Monday, Wilmington, N.C. residents became the first Americans to enter the new, all-digital TV environment.

Nielsen also took advantage of the first analog switch-off to study how the transition to digital TV transmissions affected Nielsen’s ability to collect and identify broadcast codes that will be used to measure viewing in an all-digital broadcast environment, Adweek and RBR.com reported Tuesday.

The test was part of Nielsen’s own efforts to prepare for the country-wide transition to digital TV in February.

In the Wilmington market, Nielsen normally uses paper diaries to measure TV viewing. Nielsen also has a small number of National People Meter households within the market.

As part of Monday’s tests, two Wilmington TV stations encoded both their analog and digital signals, and Nielsen tested the ability of its “Super Sites” to monitor the codes and signatures used to identify TV programs in survey homes — both before and after Monday’s digital switch.

Results of the Wilmington tests will be released within one to two weeks.