10.22.2008
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) today launched a contest on YouTube to reward consumers who help friends and family transition to digital television (DTV). The "Digital TV: Convert Now!" contest encourages the YouTube community to help family and friends prepare for February 17, 2009, when all full-power TV stations in the U.S. will transition to digital.

Gary Shapiro, CEA's president and CEO, announced the contest today during CEA's Industry Forum, a four-day conference designed to inform and connect leaders in the CE industry. The contest starts today and will run until December 10, 2008. Full contest entry details can be found at http://www.youtube.com/dtvtransition.

To encourage participation, popular country music band Whiskey Falls created a new video, "We are America", which explains contest details and demonstrates how consumers can prepare for the DTV transition. Lead singer Seven explains, "We are looking forward to seeing your video, and to help everyone get ready for the DTV transition! ‘Cause we are America!"

Entrants can post eligible videos, no longer than three minutes long, at http://www.youtube.com/dtvtransition. These videos should demonstrate ways to get family and friends ready for the digital TV transition. Videos will be judged on originality and creativity, aesthetic appeal and the relationship of the content to the contest theme, "Digital TV: Convert Now!" One grand prize winner will receive a home entertainment center including a flat screen high-definition TV, a Blu-ray disc player and a surround sound audio system. The grand prize-winning entry will be announced on December 10, 2008.

"CEA is thrilled to use the YouTube service to educate consumers about the biggest change in TV broadcasting since color television," said Shapiro. "It is crucial to reach various audiences by using diverse platforms, including online media. The YouTube community will help spread the word about the importance of preparing for the transition now."

This campaign augments diverse government and industry consumer outreach campaigns already underway and is designed to remind viewers who rely on an antenna and an analog TV set for reception that they have three choices before February 17, 2009:

• Buy a new TV with built-in digital tuner
• Purchase an affordable digital TV converter box to receive
• Over-the-air digital TV signals and convert them for analog TV viewing
• Subscribe to a pay TV service like cable or satellite.

To learn more about the "Digital TV: Convert Now!" contest or how to transition to digital television, visit http://www.youtube.com/dtvtransition.

About CEA
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $173 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,200 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA's industry services. Find CEA online at http://www.CE.org.