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Only 1 in 3 people aware analogue TV broadcasts will discontinue in 2011(Mainichi Daily News Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Only one in three people know that analogue television broadcasting will discontinue in July 2011, according to a survey conducted by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry. Analogue television sets will no longer be able to receive digital television radio waves from July 25, 2011, unless a tuner is attached. To avoid confusion before and after the stop of analogue broadcasting, the ministry, broadcasters and the electric appliances industry have stepped up their public relations activities. "The figure rose from last year, but it's still too low. Even if people know the timing of the discontinuation of such broadcasts, it doesn't necessarily encourage them to buy new digital TV sets. Therefore, the figure needs to be further raised," said a broadcast official. The ministry surveyed 4,006 people aged 15 to 79 across the country. When asked when analogue TV broadcasting will stop, only 32.1 percent of the pollees correctly responded 2011. The previous survey in March last year found only 9.2 percent knew that analogue television broadcasting will stop in 2011, which came as a shock to the government and broadcasters. The results prompted the public broadcaster NHK and private television stations to jointly launch a public relations campaign. Moreover, the electric appliances industry body attached a seal, "Analogue TV broadcasting to stop in 2011," to all television sets sold at retailers. The government and industry organizations hope to raise the ratio of those who know the timing of the discontinuation of analogue TV broadcasting to 50 percent during the current fiscal year that ends in March 2007. In 2001, the Diet approved the government's decision to discontinue analogue TV broadcasting in 2011. Ground wave digital TV broadcasting began in Tokyo and some limited areas in 2003. The area where such radio waves can be received is gradually spreading. The government and industry bodies are encouraging viewers to buy digital television sets or special tuners by 2011. Consumers generally buy new television sets every 10 years. Digital television sets account for only about 10 percent of some 100 million television sets across the country because such TV sets are expensive and public relations activities have been slow. (Mainichi) [Mainichi Daily News / May 25] |