GAO report on DTV transition ‘clearly underscores the need for go...

its core, the DTV transition represents government-driven policy, not a market-driven phenomenon.” He said fact that 74% of stations would miss May 1 deadline for launching DTV showed that DTV transition was “largely stalled.” GAO report was based on survey of 1,036 TV stations, including 135 that have started DTV. Findings included: (1) 74% of operating DTV stations were carrying some HDTV content. (2) Of those, average was 23 hours of HDTV programming per week. (3) Stations unable to meet May 1 deadline were likely to have less than $2 million annual revenue and be in smallest markets. (4) 68% of those that hadn’t begun DTV said at least one-year deadline extension would be “realistic.” (5) 31% of stations expecting to miss deadline said they would wait until at least 2010 to launch DTV if market, rather than govt., were determining factor; 4% said they probably never would offer DTV. NAB spokesman said report reinforced association’s position that broadcasters couldn’t shoulder transition burden alone and reflected recent FCC suggestions for cross- industry action: “FCC Chairman Michael Powell had it right when he said cable operators and receiver manufacturers must also be part of the DTV solution.” General Accounting Office expects to publish follow-up report by end of year on issues raised by Powell such as role of cable and satellite companies, content providers and consumer electronics manufacturers in effecting transition. It said industry’s actions in response to Powell’s recommendations “could help keep the DTV transition on track since their combined effect would be to encourage consumers to adopt DTV technologies.”