Zenith Launches Digital-to-Analog Converter Box for Nation's Transition to All-Digital Broadcasting

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

CONTACT: John Taylor of Zenith, +1-847-941-8181, john.taylor@zenith.com

Web site:

http://www.zenith.com/dtv
http://www.cesweb.org/

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