Few online readers (like this guy) care about the upcoming digital TV deadline, which may get a reprieve to June 12. But print readers? Shall I offer some of the phone calls I get? This is just from the past two days: 

• One woman, who didn’t leave a phone number, doesn’t understand why we always write in the newspaper “To read more, go online …” She said we shouldn’t assume that people who have analog TVs also have a computer. 
• Another woman complained that she can’t afford a converter box, even with a $40 coupon. Besides, she mentioned, she recently adopted two dogs so her budget is tight. 
• One guy asked whether he’d still be able to get audio on his analog TV if he doesn’t install a converter box. (Umm … no.)

I feel for all of them. Really. I also encourage them to get out to Los Angeles this weekend where the DTV Road show will be parking its TV-shaped vehicle in the middle of LA’s Chinatown to answer questions about the upcoming transition.

The tour, sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters, will be on the northwest corner of Broadway and Cesar Chavez from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Here’s a MAP.

While you’re there, you can check out the Chinese New Year celebrations ( Gōngxǐ fācái everyone!)  at the Golden Dragon Cultural Festival.

NAB gussied up an 18-foot box truck to look like a giant TV set with rabbit-ear antennas. The 20-foot set will be part of the Golden Dragon Parade on Saturday and will be parked next to the DTVAnswers.com tent on Sunday. At least two to three officials will be there to answer questions. Plus, there will be side-by-side TVs broadcasting the same channel — one in digital, the other analog.

Photos from past road stops, courtesy of NAB (click images to enlarge): Read the rest of this entry »