"The Edge" on "Smooth Jazz"

[Scott Fybush]

Maureen Carney wrote:
> If you can find a converter box. 

If you follow the logic of the coupon program, you DON'T want converters 
to be widely available in the stores right now.

As much bad PR as there already is about the conversion, imagine how 
much more there would be if people were going into Wal-Mart or Target, 
plunking down $90 for a converter box now, then finding out in January 
2008 that they can get a coupon that will knock that price down to $50 
or lower.

The claim that's being made is that the converter boxes are being made 
right now in large quantities in China (or wherever), but that they 
won't be released to retail until the coupons are issued in January.

At that point - so the concept goes - there will be a coordinated effort 
that will include coupons from the Feds, a flood of cheap converters in 
the stores, and lots of publicity from the stations.

In the meantime, the push at the retail level is for cheap SDTV sets 
with integrated ATSC tuners. There won't be coupons for those, so no 
harm in releasing them now. The prices on those are dropping like a 
stone already.

s