[SBE] Consumer DTV Education

[McGlothen, Darryl]

Great message, Tony! Because consumers/viewers get as much as 30% (or
more) commercial air-time while they're trying to watch their favorite
episode of 'Lost' or  'All My Children' or whatever... they perceive
Television Broadcasters as trying to sell them something whether we are
presenting 'educational information' about the DTV transition or just
warning them of the impending Analog shut-off. One thing we, as
Broadcasters, must do is remind viewers that free, over-the-air
television is just that...F-R-E-E! The equipment they must own to
receive TV programing, however, is not free; so, in spite of our efforts
to 'explain' DTV and demonstrate the visual advantages of the format
(rather than the equipment), the consumer is pressured to buy something
from someone. Any suggestions as to how we may approach that hurdle?

Darryl McGlothen, CBNT
SBE #117 Chapter Chair



> -----Original Message-----

> From: sbe-bounces at sbe.org [mailto:sbe-bounces at sbe.org] On 

> Behalf Of Tony Mancari

> Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 12:16 PM

> To: sbe member discussion mail list

> Subject: Re: [SBE] Consumer DTV Education

> 

> Vinny and all- 

> 

> Our Chapter found a hosting station location and partnered 

> with all the TV stations in the area so we had everyone (all 

> Chief Engineers) together to do a DTV kick off- We also 

> partnered with a big vendor (I won't mention who it was here) 

> but... did three local DTV schools with their massive 

> equipment displays. During our DTV for Dummies schools (which 

> held about 150 students at a time) we set up a pc with a DTV 

> card, a DTV converter box to an analog TV, and the vendor 

> showed the HDTV's they brought (all 10 of em!) 

> 

> Well ...at the end of the day everyone flocked around the PC 

> and the converter box (into the analog 20" 15 year old Sony) 

> and very few were interested in the actual HDTV's except for 

> the real techies. The vendor was ok with it because they 

> realized up front with SBE doing this it was a learning 

> community experience. Now I'm also part of DTV Speaks and do 

> lots of one on one for groups and I hear over and 

> over...thanks- you made it easy to understand and you didn't 

> even try to sell me something I don't really need right now. 

> Working with a vendor can be good but...

> they really have to understand you are educating the public 

> and not trying to sell them a particular product.

> 

> Have a great Holiday weekend everyone and ...Vinny thanks for 

> stepping up to the plate to assist while Barry is recovering. 

> Say Hi to David Staunton!

> 

> Best,

> Tony

> 

> Tony Mancari SBE 78 Vice Chair

> WVPT DTV

> 298 Port Republic Road

> Harrisonburg, VA 22801

> (540) 437-2451

> (800) 345 WVPT

> (540) 434-7084 (fax)

> tmancari at wvpt.net

> www.wvpt.net

>  

>  

> 

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