Study: Nine Percent of Homes Not Ready for Digital Changeover

Should the original date hold, 9 percent of U.S. households will lose their television signal next month, MediaPost reports.
According to a study conducted by media agency Mindshare, only 16 percent of the 1,200 participants they surveyed have purchased new TV sets, while another 16 percent have subscribed to cable in preparations for the switch. Only 9 percent have ordered the conversion coupon from the government-sponsored program, which maxed out its budget two weeks ago.
The study also notes that some U.S. viewers who own multiple TV sets have one that is analog-only, which many have no plans to convert to digital by Feb. 17.
"Now that the government has run out of money for converter box coupons, there are going to be a lot of sets that are not ready, which could impact the TV audience," said Debbie Solomon, managing director of business planning of Mindshare.
Earlier this month, President Barack Obama asked Congress to delay the cut-off date, originally earmarked in 2005, due to "inadequate funding."