Although Raleigh, North Carolina is set to become one of the first DVB-SH test markets in America, WRAL is already testing out yet another standard. The station known nationwide for taking its local newscasts to the world of HD while everyone else sat and moped in their SD control rooms is currently teaming with CBC in order to test out the ATSC-compatible MPH mobile television transmission system. As we've seen before, the system enables "local broadcasters to deliver digital television to mobile devices including cellphones, laptops and personal media players," all while moving quickly in vehicles, hoverboards, rocket-powered scooters -- you name it. There's no word on what exactly will happen once the trials conclude, but we'll be keeping an ear to the ground just in case it's something big.

[Via BroadcastingCable]

Although DISH Network's $59.99 DTVPal converter box went on sale late last month, you've had to order it via the DTVPal website or by phone... until now. The NTIA-approved (meaning you can use your $40 voucher on it) box will soon start surfacing in 511 Sears retail locations along with 194 Sears Dealer stores, meaning that you can actually get in your vehicle and pick one up should you choose to do so. For us introverts, we'd still much rather have a brown box dropped off at our doorstep, but oftentimes there's nothing like instant gratification.

Further capitalizing on its new 45nm process, Panasonic unveiled a version of its UniPhier chip family meant for digital TVs capable of decoding MPEG-4 AVC and h.264 streams, and Dolby digital audio in order to meet European broadcast requirements. This design is apparently compatible with 98% of the world's digital TV standards, including Japan and US cable providers, meaning no matter where you get your next Panasonic, it'll be a MN2WS0052 inside. Sample shipments are starting any day now so we'll wait for the next refresh of Panasonic's HDTVs to see exactly what it's capable of.

[Via AV Watch]

Good luck convincing Grandma to pack a DVR-250 next to the same telly that's been avoiding TV detectors for years, but how about a "match box-sized" addition that gives all the benefits of the digital switchover and without taking up a lot of space? TVonics MFR-300 improves on previous versions with support for Audio Description allowing people with sight problems to hear subtle on screen changes described, plus interactive TV features, EPG and parental controls. The 70mm x 27mm x 54mm box is available for £59.99 and can actually mount behind the TV, so all that's left is teaching your family how to use it -- good luck with that.

Even though we just know you'll disregard this information until the last possible moment, we'd like to point out that three more digital-to-analog converter boxes have been reviewed over at Sound & Vision. The $60 Zenith DTT900 -- one of the very first DTV boxes to get outed -- was pit against the $50 RCA DTA800 and the $60 Digital Stream DTX9900. Believe it or not, reviewers actually found quite a bit of difference in the three units ranging from looks (clearly) to on-screen interfaces. If you're one to care about the minutiae (and admit it, you are), head on over to see which of these three most deserve your $40 voucher.

Let's get this straight. A Best Buy survey suggesting that the public isn't acting early on the imminent digital TV transition. From the same big box retailer accused of pushing ignorant citizens into buying unnecessary wares in order to maintain a signal post-2009. Righhht. For whatever it is (or isn't) worth, a recent survey from said retailer has found that 88-percent of respondents were "aware of the digital broadcast transition, but were still confused about why [it] was happening and what really needed to be done to prepare." It also found that nearly half (45-percent) of those who hadn't already picked up a new TV or a DTV converter box were going to "wait until after the digital deadline to take action," which is really so typical of our society, isn't it? Go ahead government, spend those advertising dollars good -- the public at large still won't do anything until their hands are forced.

[Image courtesy of StarBulletin]

In order to facilitate the digital TV changeover in the region, the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) recently laid out a standard spec for both SD and HD set-top boxes. They're still talking things over like interactive TV, MPEG-4 licensing fees, a standard for digital sound and 720p/1080i transmission, but expect this to push forward digital TV efforts in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Another part of the deal is a new ASEAN HD Centre to facilitate HD co-productions in the area, so even if your vacation doesn't include Southeast Asia more HD content could be headed this way.

Heads-up, DTV holdouts. Your digital-to-analog converter box has arrived, and it's shipping right now. DISH Network's DTVPal (known as the Sling TR-40 in a previous life) can be snapped up as we speak from the DTVPal website or by phone. Best of all, the $59.99 box qualifies for the NTIA's coupon program, meaning that you can procure one for just $19.99 -- if your voucher hasn't expired yet, that is. For those still on the fence, you can check out a review of the box here.

While the US government manages to place a totally ridiculous three month expiration date on a coupon that doesn't have to be used until February of 2009, the Japanese government is actually showing some signs of intelligence. Reportedly, around 1.07 million households on welfare will be receiving a digital TV tuner gratis sometime before the July 2011 switchover. The initiative will set the government back at least ¥5 billion ($46 million), but that figure could increase quickly if the retail prices of said boxes end up higher than expected. There's no word given on whether or not the general public will receive any kind of subsidy, but here's a tip: don't throw an expiration date on there just for kicks and giggles.

[Via JapanProbe]

By now, we're sure you've heard just how much the US government is allocating for the 2009 analog shutoff ($1.5 billion), not to mention the boatloads of cash that has been / will be spent on advertising. A new report, however, is explaining that the impending switchover could be costly to more than just the feds. Cable companies, broadcasters and consumers all have legitimate complaints, and each of the groups will be sharing some of the associated costs. Many argue that broadcasters are actually benefiting from the change, as they essentially garner free spectrum to use for channel expansion. Of course, these very broadcasters assert that it's costing them millions to procure equipment necessary to comply with the mandate, and cable companies are shouting in a similar tone. In the end, the article suggests that all of this may really be "much ado about nothing," and while we can't help but agree (with reservations), we're just hoping that all this unoccupied spectrum will lead to a universal boost in HD programming.

Given yesterday's post about the use (or non-use, as it were) of government-issued digital TV vouchers, we began to wonder if our own readers were having difficulties tracking a box down before their coupons expired. We already asked if you were aiming to get one, and if you stated yes, has finding one been a lesson in futility / simplicity? Let us know below!

For those of you out there who have managed to hang on to your government-issued DTV voucher(s), this is probably the box you've been waiting for. CNET just wrapped up a review of the DTVPal (formerly known as the Sling TR-40), and overall, it couldn't find a whole lot to hate. The EPG was deemed "excellent," the analog pass-throughs were smiled upon and the "solid" reception seemed to delight. They did knock the "overcomplicated" remote and the lack of front-panel buttons, but in the end, those niggles didn't keep critics from calling it "a top choice" for folks on the hunt for a digital TV converter. Tracking one down before your coupon expires is apt to be the real challenge.

Okay, it's not that alarming, now is it? How often do you (or wait, let's use your neighbor in this example) let mailer coupons sit around, collect dust and expire? Yeah, exactly. According to a recent writeup over at WDEF-TV, around half of the 840,000 government-issued digital TV coupons have already expired before they were used, and interestingly enough, Congress may not be placing all of the blame on procrastination. It's said that many folks are still having a tough time tracking a converter box down, and judging by Ben's runaround a few months back, we guess we can sympathize. For those with recently expired vouchers, you may want to keep them around a few weeks longer -- if this proves to be too widespread, The Man may actually extend their useful life to enable more citizens to get discounts.

Can you believe it? No really, can you believe ATSC has been kickin' around in TV sets and on street corners for a quarter-century now (okay, so maybe just "established" for that long)? Sure enough, the Advanced Television Systems Committee gathered on Thursday to celebrate its silver anniversary and to take a long hard look at what the future holds. Needless to say, quite a few folks will be getting acquainted with the standard now that the analog shutoff is getting dangerously near. The meeting also touched on taking ATSC mobile with ATSC-M/H and the "next generation of services for fixed receivers" with ATSC 2.0. We know, it's probably all you can do to hold back those tears after hearing of this momentous occasion, but once you're over it, why not chime in below with your fondest ATSC memories? Remember that first digital-tuner TV you got? Yeah, good times.

The idea of testing and/or "rolling" the digital transition across select US markets makes sense -- such a large change is sure to come with its share of hiccups. One Las Vegas station actually simulated the analog shutoff last week, though, and it came off pretty smoothly. During its newscasts, NBC affiliate KVBC put up a simulated "static snow" image with a graphic overlay instructing confused viewers to call the DTV transition phone number for info. How many calls did the KVBC front desk receive? One. Kudos to KVBC for pulling this little test -- as we all know, the real implications of the analog cutoff won't dawn on many people until they actually lose reception. This is a "news you can use" feature we'd like to see catch on around the rest of the country!