Submission + - Hispanics most at risk for losing TV service ... (cnn.com)
Ant writes: "CNN reports that hispanics most at risk for losing television/TV service in digital shift. They are nearly twice as likely as whites to be left without TV service following the nationwide transition to digital broadcasting next year, according to a new survey.
Beginning in February 2009, full-power broadcast stations will transmit digital-only signals, meaning people who get their television programming over an antenna and do not have a digital set won't get a picture without a special converter box.
The Nielsen Company/Co. survey released Friday estimates that more than 13 million households in the United States/U.S. receive television programming over the air on non-digital sets, meaning they will need converter boxes. Another 6 million households contain at least one TV that fits that description.
Nielsen researchers found that 10.1 percent of all households would have no access to television signals if the transition occurred today. Broken down by race, 8.8 percent of whites would be unready; 11.7 percent of Asians; 12.4 percent of blacks; and 17.3 percent of Hispanics.
By age, of those 35 and younger, 12.3 percent rely solely on over-the-air broadcasts. Of those age 55 and older, 9.4 percent fall into that category..."
