Retirement Living TV and NCTA Drive National Discussion on Seniors and the Digital TV Transition at Cable Show '07

Retirement Living TV and NCTA Drive National Discussion on Seniors and the Digital TV Transition at Cable Show '07

RLTV's John Palmer to Moderate Cable Show Panel Focused Solely on the Digital TV Transition Featuring NCTA's Kyle McSlarrow, U.S. Department of Commerce's John Kneuer, FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller & NAB's Jonathan Collegio

LAS VEGAS, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Retirement Living TV, the first cable network dedicated to people age 55 and over, will co-host with the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) a discussion on seniors and the digital TV transition at The Cable Show '07, NCTA's 56th annual convention and international exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 7 at 10 AM (PDT) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

Recent congressional action mandates that all broadcasters begin delivering their signals exclusively in a digital format after February 17, 2009. It is expected that more than 19 million households will have to purchase new TVs, converters, or subscribe to cable or satellite service to watch television after that date. To ease the transition for consumers, the U.S. Department of Commerce will offer $40 coupons off the price of converters beginning in January 1, 2008. Media and cable industry experts expect seniors to be greatly affected by the digital television transition.

More information on the transition to digital TV is available from the website of the Digital TV Transition Coalition, www.dtvtransition.org.

Retirement Living TV host John Palmer, a former White House correspondent and anchor for NBC News, will moderate a panel that includes Kyle McSlarrow, President & CEO, NCTA; John M. R. Kneuer, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, U.S. Department of Commerce; FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate; Ross Miller, Nevada Secretary of State; and Jonathan Collegio, Vice President, Digital Television Transition, National Association of Broadcasters.

"RLTV feels it is critical to raise awareness and create a system of support to assist seniors in this impending change to digital TV," said John Erickson, CEO, Retirement Living TV. "We are committed to keeping seniors 'connected' to the world, and will champion strategies to educate them on how they will be affected, encourage them to participate in the process, and offer assistance to facilitate the transition."

"The cable television industry is working with broadcasters, the consumer electronics industry, and many partner organizations to educate all Americans about the impending transition and how to prepare for the switch," said NCTA's McSlarrow. "We welcome the opportunity to engage key participants in a discussion about this transformation in the way we view television and the many benefits of digital TV."

RLTV launched in September 2006 with content designed to inform, involve, and inspire seniors by offering information on finances, health and fitness, politics and social issues, media, entertainment, and more. RLTV programming is now available in more than 26 million U.S. homes. RLTV content is also available on video on demand (VOD) and at www.rl.tv

About NCTA

NCTA is the principal trade association for the U.S. cable industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks. The cable industry is the nation's largest broadband provider of high-speed Internet access after investing more than $100 billion over ten years to build a two-way interactive network with fiber optic technology. Cable companies also provide state-of-the-art digital telephone service to millions of American consumers. For additional, up-to-the-minute information, or to register for The Cable Show '07, visit the www.thecableshow.com or contact NCTA's Department of Industry Affairs (202/222-2430).

About Retirement Living TV

Retirement Living TV, a cable network dedicated to informing, involving, and inspiring people aged 55 and over, was launched in September 2006. Retirement Living TV is comprised of shows covering topics including health, lifestyle, finance, and politics. The Retirement Living TV network roots are in Erickson Retirement Communities, the National Institutes of Health, non- profit research foundations, the Erickson School of Aging Studies at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), and leading gerontologists across the country. RLTV is committed to changing the perception on aging, and strives to develop innovative and entertaining television for a mature viewing audience.

Source: Retirement Living TV

CONTACT: Erica Chouinard, Bob Gold & Associates, +1-310-784-1040,
erica@bobgoldpr.com, for Retirement Living; or Joy Sims of NCTA,
+1-202-222-2350, jsims@ncta.com

Web site:

http://www.dtvtransition.org/
http://www.thecableshow.com/

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