Nielsen Wire » Digital Television Transition

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.

The Digital Television Switch – Impact and Update

Nielsen Wire — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:47:34 +0000

Sara Erichson, President, Media Client Services North America, The Nielsen Company

The June 12 transition to digital broadcasting was an important milestone for all of us who work in the television industry. For Nielsen, the transition went very smoothly thanks to a year of planning and the close cooperation of our broadcast clients.

Because our metered panels are representative of U.S. television households nationwide and in individual local markets, Nielsen was able to track the country’s progress in preparing for the digital switchover. In January 2008, 10.5% of households were “completely unready” for digital television (i.e. none of the TV sets in their homes were capable of receiving digital television). Armed with this information, we began communicating with key leaders in the government, the television industry, and the news media — including 400 publications and radio stations that serve African American, Hispanic and Asian communities.

Thanks to significant public awareness campaigns by these and other groups, only 2.2% of households were unready for digital television at the time of transition.

Even though the transition took place over a month ago, we continue to look at the impact that digital television has had on consumer access to and viewing of television.

Since June 12th, the number of completely unready homes continues to drop and now stands at only 1.3% of television households. Based on a recent survey of the non-digital homes, we expect to see continued improvement in the weeks ahead as these homes continue to figure out what they must do to be able to receive digital television. When asked, virtually all these homes surveyed said they were planning to switch to digital television, either by converter box, or cable/satellite subscription.
Among those TV sets that became digitally ready in the few months just prior to June 12th, 77% were connected to a digital converter box, 19% to cable and 4% to DBS. This contrasts greatly to trends seen in the very early months, when the majority of the transitioning homes acquired cable or satellite in order to receive over-the-air television.
As of June 28, 60% of completely non-ready homes were still able to view some television by watching a low power station, a foreign station near the Canadian or Mexican borders or a U.S. broadcast station that is available to them via a “translator.” (Translators have been used for years to deliver signals to remote areas of the country.) As a consequence, television viewing in these homes has not disappeared completely, although viewing choices are extremely limited.
Those stations that transitioned on June 12th saw some decline in viewing in the two weeks immediately following the transition compared to the two weeks prior. Stations that changed their digital signal from UHF to VHF were most affected. This is because some digitally ready homes had to rescan sets or converter boxes. Others had to acquire a new antenna that received both UHF and VHF digital signals. However, this decline in viewing was largely temporary and in recent weeks we have seen audiences returning. As more homes sort out problems with antennas and converters this return to prior levels should continue.

In sum, the digital transition seems not to have had a major impact on viewing levels. People still watch a significant amount of television and we believe the small number of households that remain without digital television will eventually make the switch-over from analog television.

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.

Nielsen’s Steve McGowan Talks DTV Impact on Bloomberg’s “Taking Stock”

Nielsen Wire — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:53:40 +0000

Steve McGowan, Senior Vice President, Insights and Client Research, The Nielsen Company, discussed the impact of the digital television transition on viewers, broadcasters, and the TV industry overall on Bloomberg’s “Taking Stock.”

Listen to the clip here.

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2.8 Million Homes Still Unready for DTV Transition on June 12

Nielsen Wire — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:01:42 +0000

In Nielsen’s final update before the June 12 deadline, 2.8 million American households, or 2.5% of the television market, are completely unready for the transition to digital television. Younger, African American and Hispanic homes are disproportionately unready, while the elderly are the most ready.

% OF HOMES COMPLETELY UNREADY FOR DIGITAL TRANSITION
DATE	Total	White	African American	Hispanic	Asian	Under 35	Over 55
June 7, 2009	2.5	1.9	5.1	4.3	3.1	4.6	1.3
May 25, 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
Apr 26, 2009	3.1	2.4	5.9	5.0	4.1	5.7	1.7
Apr 12, 2009	3.2	2.5	5.9	5.4	4.3	5.9	1.7
Mar 29, 2009	3.4	2.7	6.2	5.6	4.4	6.3	1.8
Mar 15, 2009	3.6	2.9	6.6	6.1	4.4	6.5	2.0
Mar 1, 2008	3.9	3.2	6.7	6.5	4.5	7.2	2.2
Feb 15, 2009	4.4	3.6	7.5	7.4	5.1	8.1	2.6
Feb 1, 2009	5.1	4.1	8.7	8.5	6.3	8.6	3.2
Jan 18, 2009	5.7	4.6	9.9	9.7	6.9	8.8	4.0
Dec 21, 2008	6.8	5.6	10.8	11.5	8.1	9.9	5.2
source: The Nielsen Company

“Since February, when the U.S. government postponed the transition for three months, the number of households that are completely unready has been cut in half – from 5.8 million to 2.8 million homes,” said Sara Erichson, President Media Client Services, The Nielsen Company. “Given the importance that television plays in the day-to-day life of most people, we expect that the most of the remaining unready homes will take the necessary steps to get ready once the stations make the final switch to digital transmission. We will continue to follow this trend closely.”

Read the complete media alert with market by market breakdown.

Download a DTV fact sheet.

Only 2.7% of U.S. Homes Unready for Digital Television

Nielsen Wire — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:01:27 +0000

Since mid-May an additional 200,000 U.S. homes prepared their homes for the June 12 transition to digital television, leaving roughly 3.1 million homes (or 2.7%) unready for the switch. While these new figures show an improvement in the level of preparedness among African American and Hispanic households, but both groups remain less ready than the national average.

For details on a market-by-market breakdown of DTV readiness, read the complete media release.

% OF HOMES COMPLETELY UNREADY FOR DIGITAL TRANSITION
DATE	Total	White	African American	Hispanic	Asian	Under 35	Over 55
May 25, 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
Apr 26, 2009	3.1	2.4	5.9	5.0	4.1	5.7	1.7
Apr 12, 2009	3.2	2.5	5.9	5.4	4.3	5.9	1.7
Mar 29, 2009	3.4	2.7	6.2	5.6	4.4	6.3	1.8
Mar 15, 2009	3.6	2.9	6.6	6.1	4.4	6.5	2.0
Mar 1, 2008	3.9	3.2	6.7	6.5	4.5	7.2	2.2
Feb 15, 2009	4.4	3.6	7.5	7.4	5.1	8.1	2.6
Feb 1, 2009	5.1	4.1	8.7	8.5	6.3	8.6	3.2
Jan 18, 2009	5.7	4.6	9.9	9.7	6.9	8.8	4.0
Dec 21, 2008	6.8	5.6	10.8	11.5	8.1	9.9	5.2
source: The Nielsen Company

3.1% of U.S. Homes Still Unready for Digital Transition

Nielsen Wire — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:06:18 +0000

With seven weeks remaining until the transition to digital television, 3.5 million or 3.1% of U.S. TV households remain completely unready for the June 12 switch according to Nielsen. The figure is an improvement of more than 100,000 households in the two weeks since the last update. Hispanic households showed the largest percentage improvement, moving from 5.4% unready down to 5%.

% OF HOMES COMPLETELY UNREADY FOR DIGITAL TRANSITION
DATE	Total	White	African American	Hispanic	Asian	Under 35	Over 55
Apr 26, 2009	3.1	2.4	5.9	5.0	4.1	5.7	1.7
Apr 12, 2009	3.2	2.5	5.9	5.4	4.3	5.9	1.7
Mar 29, 2009	3.4	2.7	6.2	5.6	4.4	6.3	1.8
Mar 15, 2009	3.6	2.9	6.6	6.1	4.4	6.5	2.0
Mar 1, 2008	3.9	3.2	6.7	6.5	4.5	7.2	2.2
Feb 15, 2009	4.4	3.6	7.5	7.4	5.1	8.1	2.6
Feb 1, 2009	5.1	4.1	8.7	8.5	6.3	8.6	3.2
Jan 18, 2009	5.7	4.6	9.9	9.7	6.9	8.8	4.0
Dec 21, 2008	6.8	5.6	10.8	11.5	8.1	9.9	5.2
source: The Nielsen Company

For details on a market-by-market breakdown of DTV readiness, read the complete media release.