«
»

Free Dish Network TR-40 digital TV converter box available in June

tr40_copyrightedimagedonlindich.jpg

Dish Network has announced their free digital TV converter box, the TR-40, will be available in June.  In February 2009 all analog TV broadcasts in the USA will cease and without a converter box, analog TVs will be unable to receive any stations.  The government is now issuing $40 coupons good towards the purchase of a converter box (limit two per household) to assist in the transition.  The aptly-named TR-40 will sell for just under $40, the same amount as the government-issued coupons, making the converter box essentially free and enabling anyone with an analog TV to add digital reception capability with no cost.

 

tr40_2.jpg
Echostar TR-40 Digital TV converter box

I saw the TR-40 at Echostar’s booth at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show.  I asked them why they would offer an essentially free converter box when their profits are driven by satellite TV subscriptions.  They said they hoped the positive PR and additional visibility for the brand would lead to more satellite customers down the road- a logical strategy, I would say.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 11:03 am and is filed under HDTV, Industry News, Television, Televison Reception (Antenna). You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Comments are closed.