(19 February 2008 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: More than 13 million households in the US with television sets that can only receive analogue broadcasts are currently unprepared for the transition to all digital broadcasting that is scheduled for 18 February 2009, says media research company Nielsen.

Another six million homes have at least one television set that would no longer work after that date.

Nielsen senior manager of product leadership Eric Rossi says, "The change to all-digital broadcasting is the most significant change in the history of television because unlike other advances such as colour, older television sets will no longer be able to receive television signals without a converter.

"Over the past 18 months, we have been reviewing every aspect of the digital transition to measure the impact and help clients understand where things stand as we all prepare for the challenges."

Nielsen found that adults over 55 are better prepared than younger households; and whites and Asians are more ready than African Americans. More Hispanic households still rely on analogue, over-the-air broadcast television than non-Hispanics.

-- 10.1 per cent of all households would have no access to television signals if the transition occurred today.

-- 16.8 per cent of all households have at least one analogue television set that would not work after the switch.

-- New York is the most ready local television market, with just 3.5 per cent "unready" television sets.

-- Portland, Oregon is the least prepared local market, with 22.4 per cent of all households using only analogue sets and over-the-air television.