Zenith Launches Digital-to-Analog Converter Box for Nation's Transition to
All-Digital Broadcasting
Certified by U.S. Commerce Department, Zenith DTV Tuner Brings Free Over-the-
Air Digital TV Programs to Old Analog TVs
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Supporting the final phase of the
nation's transition to all-digital television broadcasting, Zenith is
launching an advanced yet affordable converter box that will bring digital TV
signals to analog television sets.
The Zenith digital-to-analog converter box - officially certified for the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) digital-to-
analog converter box program - will be available through U.S. retailers
beginning this month.
The NTIA, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, certified the Zenith
Digital TV Tuner model DTT900 as a "coupon-eligible converter box" under the
government program that will provide up to two $40 coupons per household to go
toward the purchase of a converter box.
Honored with a 2008 CES Innovations Award for its handsome styling and
consumer-friendly features, Zenith model DTT900 is being introduced here this
week at the 2008 International CES(R).
DTV BENEFITS. Tens of millions of consumers with analog TVs that receive
their broadcast signals using an antenna can use the converter box to receive
the new interference-free digital TV broadcasts when full-power analog TV
broadcasting ends in the United States on Feb. 17, 2009.
The Zenith digital TV tuner delivers DVD like-quality digital broadcast
images even on older analog TVs. Perhaps even more significant, it also will
receive many more programs, the "multicast" channels delivered by many digital
TV broadcasters without a subscription fee. The Zenith box also features
flexible 4:3 and 16:9 display formats, with one-button "zoom" control on the
remote to adjust the image's aspect ratio.
EASY SET-UP. For easy setup and simple navigation, the box includes
trilingual (English, Spanish and French) on-screen menus and a simple
electronic program guide. Hook-up is simple: connect the existing antenna to
the RF input and the RF output to the TV. For stereo TV sound, left and right
audio connectors and cables are included.
Also included are a quick hook-up guide and owner's manual, both in
English and Spanish. DTT900 owners may call Zenith's toll-free consumer
hotline (1-877-9ZENITH) for set-up and operation assistance. A new Web site,
www.zenith.com/dtv, also has been launched to help educate consumers about the
DTT900 and the DTV transition.
DIGITAL CLOSED CAPTIONS. In addition to V-Chip parental control, the
Zenith converter box provides advanced digital closed captions, including the
capability to choose from multiple fonts, sizes, colors, backgrounds and more.
The remote control includes a "cc" button for easy caption access.
This functionality builds on Zenith's heritage of accessible products,
including pioneering developments in hearing aid technology from the 1930s
through the 1970s, the first analog TVs with closed caption capability more
than 15 years ago, the first digital HDTVs with closed captioning.
ENERGY EFFICIENT. Designed to operate at less than 8 watts active and 1
watt standby, the Zenith DTT900 exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's EnergyStar program requirements for digital-to-analog converters. To
save energy, the Zenith box can be set to shut off automatically after four
hours.
SOURCE Zenith
John Taylor of Zenith, +1-847-941-8181, john.taylor@zenith.com
