Best Buy / NAB to host DTV transition workshops for the uninformed

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 16th 2008 at 9:52AM

Best Buy has been pushing out "surveys" asserting that the vast majority of America still isn't prepared for the looming 2009 digital TV transition for months now, but at long last the retailer is stepping up to do something about it. Similar to Circuit City's initiative earlier this year, Best Buy is teaming up with NAB to host in-store DTV workshops in the 25 largest cities across the nation. The festivities will begin on the morning of November 17th in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and a smattering of others, and of course, you can count on store employees coaxing you into buying a DTV converter box right then and there. Ah well, whatever it takes to get you prepared. Like an Eagle Scout.

Filed under: Industry, Misc, Regulatory, Tuners

Tags: 2009, best buy, BestBuy, cutover, digital tv, DigitalTv, dtv, dtv transition, DtvTransition, educate, education, NAB, switchover

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

LB @ Nov 16th 2008 10:23AM

This change is blown out of proportion. Mainly by the electronics companies trying to capitalize on uninformed people. 99% of people have cable or satellite TV and will see no changes.

Highly Ranked

Patrick @ Nov 16th 2008 10:37AM

Haha...I hope these workshops are not being taught by Best Buy employees, whose product knowledge is questionable...

Neutral

ht pro4 @ Nov 16th 2008 11:07AM

really so is your knowledge.... yes i am a best buy employee and yes i am certified by bb and cea and i am a cepro member and i am isf certified do you want to question my knowledge? yes we do have employee's who's knowledge is questionable but not all of us are stupid as you so impled.

Neutral

BLite @ Nov 16th 2008 11:23AM

Sorry HT PRO4, but my first thoughts were along the line of Patrick's. I have yet to meet a BB employee that doesn't make my eyes roll.

Also, for future reference, certifications make people with relevant degrees laugh.

Now get back to hocking your Monster cables.

Neutral

LonnieDvD @ Nov 16th 2008 11:08AM

How could people still not be prepared? The DTV transition has been advertised on TV and in newspapers for over a year now.

Highest Ranked

FreeRange @ Nov 16th 2008 12:11PM

All of the comments here (outside of the thread started by Patrick, that was great) sadden me greatly.

The EngadgetHD audience should be championing this transition with their uninformed loved ones and blowing this process to the appropriate proportion (I'm sorry LB but you are just wrong). Since when do we think advertising actually gets the point across? And since when have we stopped knowing enough about technology that we are comfortable with the government and the stores taking matters into their own hands? Speaking of which, why hasn't anyone mentioned that Best Buy will be upselling our loved ones those Monster cables as BLite pointed out? Seriously, Grandma's gonna have a converter box connected with $120 cables after these clowns are done with her! And a new Harmony remote control since the converter box needs a remote, too. "You know, it's complicated, Grandma, we'll just roll a Geek Squad car out to your house tomorrow to make sure you're all set. Better grab a new antenna while you're here, too, by the way."

Why are we not encouraging EVERYONE, regardless of their content provider, to explore the need for these boxes just in case of emergencies? And, at the very least, is this not an opportunity to push analog people toward the beauty of the 16:9 program and an argument for "If you had an HDTV, this could look even better..."?

Why are people still struggling with this? Because the people who know about it aren't lending them a hand. And, yes, I've made the rounds in my apartment building and gotten the few people still on OTA hooked up with converter boxes. One guy went from 2 channels to 7 and they were all much clearer.

Neutral

rtpbiker @ Nov 16th 2008 4:47PM

What's up with the Best Buy employee grabbing the lady's arm in the picture?

Neutral

MHT_PRO3 @ Nov 17th 2008 12:24AM

because the other girl is an employee as well...and for everyones info, i'm a best buy employee as well... Monster cables are good... you know why??? lifetime guarantee..thats why... if the cable goes bad at all, for any reason, bring it to us, you get a new one.. monster recoups us back anyways, so we are glad to do it... trust me, you assholes who think we will sell your g-ma a monster cable for a converter box, you all are idiots.. at my store, you will NEVER have anyone do that.. we look out for our customers, because if we screw them, they wont come back..simple as that...come look me up, i work on the North Side of Indianapolis... NO BS

Neutral

rtpbiker @ Nov 17th 2008 1:11AM

@MHT_PRO3: Your post cracked me up. Thanks for the laugh!

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