More than half of over-the-air consumers who are aware of the US digital transition prefer to receive free digital television by buying a converter box or digital TV set instead of pay TV services, according to a survey from the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS).

Roughly 62 per cent of the approximately 14.5 million over-the-air consuming households who are aware of the cut-off to analogue television indicated that they would buy a converter box or digital TV set between now and when the transition takes effect February 17, 2009, compared to 10 per cent who would opt for cable, satellite or telecommunications service to receive digital television.

Consumer awareness of the transition has also increased to 76.4 per cent in February 2008 compared to 51 per cent in November 2007. Moreover, 55 per cent, or 23 million of these households, correctly identified the year when the DTV transition will occur.

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