Digital Converter Boxes on the cheap at Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart puts digital converter cheap in the shops for less than $ 50

While many in the United States know that the transition to digital television broadcasts will begin in early 2009, there are still some who forget the transition. The company said that Nielsen estimated that the transition will affect 13 million households throughout the country.

To offset the cost of the digital transition for consumers, the U.S. government Is offering coupons to help reduce the cost of converters for the affected households. Without these digital converter boxes, in homes without televisions capable of receiving digital broadcasts that are not connected to services via satellite or cable, can no longer receive programming.

Consumers will be eligible for a maximum of two $ 40 coupons that can be used for the purchase of a converter. Wal-Mart said that it expects many customers who use these coupons were introduced in their stores across the country.

Gary Severson, senior vice president of home entertainment for Wal-Mart said in a statement, “Due to our many places, we hope that the majority of customers come to us to make their plan digital transition, both for convenience and price . We have prepared over many months to ensure the voucher process will go smoothly, and will work with suppliers to remain available, the options available in our stores for all customers. “

To make easier the process of buying Wal-Mart said that it has defined a new platform in their records to which the use of the $ 40 coupons as easy as using a gift card. The catch with $ 40 coupons provided by the government is that the converters at the moment all expenses over $ 40.

Wal-Mart now has one of the cheapest around converters with a Magnavox Digital-to-Analog Converter at a price of $ 49.87. That leaves consumers paying about $ 10 out of their own pockets to keep watching programming by air only with old analog televisions.

Some may find the digital transition happens before the February 17, 2009 deadline in their area. The FCC changed the rules to allow broadcasters to make the digital transition early if necessary for the station to make the transition.