Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Updates: Newspaper woes, DTV transition


More newspaper industry bad news

My timing was pretty good for my latest post about newspaper job cuts.
McClatchy Co., publisher of the Sacramento Bee and Miami Herald, said Monday it plans to cut 1,600 jobs, or 15% of its workforce. The job cuts are part of a bigger plan to reduce costs, including slashing executive pay and eliminating the company dividend.
McClatchy runs about 80 daily and non-daily newspapers.

Americans getting message about digital TV switch

The percentage of U.S. households totally unprepared for the transition to digital television dropped to 3.9% as of March 1. That compares with 6.8% in December, according to measuring service Nielsen.
People are finally getting the message that broadcasters are shutting off analog signals and households using antennas to get programming for their analog TVs need to do something. At the very least, those households need to buy digital converter boxes. They also can get ready by buying a new DTV set or subscribe to cable, satellite or telco television services.
All full-power U.S. broadcast television stations will switch to digital-only signals by June 12. Many broadcasters were allowed to switch over on Feb. 17, the original deadline, which was extended when President Obama and Congress balked.

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