Ditching Analog for Digital and Recycling Too April 1, 2008
Posted by Reginald Johnson in Business, Electronics, Environment, Green.add a comment
Over the past year there has been a lot mentioned about the conversion to DTV. Starting early next year the American public will suffer interruption with their television reception, if they us an analog system (‘rabbit ears’ and ‘antenna’). To ensure no interruption and continue using the analog system, you will need a digital converter box. It will allow you to watch all your favourite programs without interruption. The converters cost between $65.00 and $80.00 each. The U.S. government has coupons offering as much as $45.00 or $50.00 off.
It is important to note that subscribers to a cable provider will experience no interruption. They may loose the advanced picture clarity; but should not notice anything unusual.
Also, HDTVs are being sold at all electronic stores because of the amazing picture they provide. Some actors, film studios, and non-profits are against the move because of the sharpness of the picture. The porn industry is also against the move. Flat screens, plasmas, and extended vision televisions look to be the wave of the future.
Americans across the country are looking to the future.
One question some people have is, “What will happen to all those old televisions?” It is a valid question indeed. Consumer Electronic Association (CEA) has announced today that consumers plan to sell, donate or recycle 95 percent of unused analog TV’s following the DTV transition.
The Arlington, Virginia non-profit conducted a survey and questioned a substantial group concerning the matter. They asked those surveyed what will happen to their analog TVs following next year’s transition to digital television (DTV). CEA says, “This is good news for the environment.” The results of the study, Trends in Consumer Electronics (CE) Afterlife clearly shows that households receiving broadcast signals only over-the-air (OTA) expect to remove fewer than 15 million televisions from their homes through 2010, ninety-five percent of which will be sold, donated or recycled. Less than half of most OTA-only households expect to buy a digital converter box. They also plan on using the same television.
CEA’s Senior Director of Market Research Tim Herbert says, “Consumers are far more likely to recycle, reuse, give away or sell analog TVs than throw them away.” He continues, “While some have speculated that millions of TVs would enter the waste stream, this new study suggests that is not the case.”
CEA’s consumer website, www.myGreenElectronics.org educates consumers about the responsible use, reuse and recycling of electronics and also includes a zip-code searchable database of electronics recyclers.
Tomorrow CEA will be leading a forum where the point of discussion will be consumer electronics recycling. The upcoming Washington Forum is scheduled to be held at the JW Marriott tomorrow and Thursday. In the CEA press release, they announce that in the Thursday 2-3 p.m. session Analog Sets and Recycling, a panel of experts will discuss consumer behavior and what the CE industry is doing to educate consumers about the importance of recycling TVs. For registration information, please visit www.CE.org/Events/default.asp.
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $161 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,200 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.
