Nielsen: 7 Million Homes Unprepared For DTV Transition

As of this month, 6.8% of (or about 7 million) US households are completely unready for the DTV switch, meaning they have only over-the-air analog service and have yet to do anything about it. By completely unready, Nielsen means that none of the TV sets in the house are digital, or have a DTV-to-analog converter box, or are hooked up to cable or satellite. That is according to Nielsen's latest tracking of DTV-readiness. But that percentage is down from the 7.4% who weren't ready in November. They will need to be ready by Feb. 17, 2009, when the analog signal is being shut off (except possibly for a brief period for DTV info and emergency info only). The number of households that are "partially unready," meaning they have at least one unconnected, non-DTV set, is 10%, down a hair from November's 10.3%. The least prepared markets are Albuquerque-Santa Fe at 13% unready, followed by Tulsa at 12.65%, Houston at 12.41%, and Dallas-Fort Worth at 11.71%.