Not everyone needs a new TV for digital
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Scott Jagow: Here in this country, the move to digital TV is about a year away. Today on Capitol Hill, a consumer group releases a report about this transition. More now from Lisa Napoli.
Lisa Napoli: You might think people who sell TVs would be hip to what you need to get ready for the transition to digital television. Turns out you’d be wrong.
Ed Mierszwinski: There’s still a lot of misinformation out there that retailers don’t have their staffs properly educated and that consumers have to be very careful when navigating through this digital transition.
That’s Ed Mierszwinski of the Public Interest Research group. He says consumer groups like his are worried that people might be tricked into buying pricey new televisions. Turns out anyone with a newer TV or with cable or satellite doesn’t need to do a thing.
But if you’re one of the 22 million Americans with an older TV and no cable or satellite, you need a converter box. The government’ll even offset the cost of the box by sending you a $40 coupon for up to two sets per household.
And remember: You’ve got a year to get ready.
In Los Angeles, I’m Lisa Napoli For Marketplace.
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