Circuit City Opens New Channel to Help Consumers with Transition to Digital Television

Circuit City Opens New Channel to Help Consumers with Transition to Digital Television

Toll-Free Telephone Contact Center Offers Expert Advice, Sale of DTV Converter Boxes and Other Options

RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- To better serve Americans preparing for the upcoming switch from analog to digital TV, Circuit City announces it has opened a toll-free telephone contact center to answer consumers' questions and assist with the purchase of government approved digital TV converter boxes. The contact center can be reached at 888-280-9382.

"We know the clock is ticking and in less than six months, most U.S. TV stations will switch from traditional analog signals to digital broadcasts," said Brian S. Bradley, senior vice president - multi-channel at Circuit City Stores, Inc. "People are eager to learn more about how the DTV switchover will affect them, and we believe our new contact center will be a valuable public information resource. Our contact center also will be an important new sales channel for people who live in rural areas and for customers who find it inconvenient to visit traditional retail locations."

Under federal mandate, most TV stations in the U.S. will stop broadcasting analog signals and switch to purely digital broadcasts after February 17, 2009. Circuit City has been an active participant in the government coupon program to make converter boxes more affordable and has offered government approved DTV converter boxes in its stores since mid-February, 2008.

The new contact center will enable consumers to redeem their government coupons to purchase converter boxes over the telephone. Contact center associates also will be able to help consumers explore other options for the DTV switchover, including upgrading to digital television sets, or signing-up for cable or satellite service.

The company also has created a special informational section on its Web site at http://www.circuitcity.com/tvsignal to assist consumers with questions about the upcoming transition.

About Circuit City Stores, Inc.

Circuit City Stores, Inc. (NYSE:CC) is a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics and related services. The domestic segment operates through 701 Superstores and 9 outlet locations in 158 U.S. markets. The international segment operates through approximately 800 retail stores and dealer outlets in Canada. Circuit City also operates Web sites at www.circuitcity.com, www.thesource.ca and www.firedog.com.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010709/CCLOGO )

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Source: Circuit City Stores, Inc.

CONTACT: Jim Babb of Circuit City Stores, Inc., +1-804-486-4003,
jim_babb@circuitcity.com

Web site: http://www.circuitcity.com/
http://www.circuitcity.com/tvsignal

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