(24 September 2007 4:00 pm)

MUMBAI: In preparation for the digital television transition, Digital Stream USA has introduced the first digital-to-analog television converter box to be approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the US Department of Commerce.

The converter will be available at retailers in early 2008.

The converter box was designed for the estimated 15 million households still watching free, on-air TV. When the transition from analog to digital concludes on February 17, 2009, these consumers will be able to watch on-air television with the use of the converter. To help defray the converter cost, the NTIA has announced a coupon program, which will provide a $40 coupon toward the purchase, with a limit of two coupons per household. Over 35 million coupons will be available.

Two Digital Stream converter models, the DigitalSTREAM D2A1D10 and DigitalSTREAM D2A1D20, have been approved by the NTIA. The cost-effective ATSC off-air receivers, which measure 7.6" X 4.1" X 1.3", support all 18 ATSC digital television formats, and feature a simple design and user-friendly interface. The units also meet all of NTIA's CECB requirements, are RoHS compliant and exceed Energy Star requirements.

Digital Stream CEO Ju H. Kim says, "We are pleased to be the first company to offer an NTIA-approved digital-to-analog converter box. The converter will help ease the transition to digital technology for millions of on-air television viewers".

Digital Stream expects to unveil a retailer/partner and customer support plan for the converters, including telephone technical support for consumers.