Obama Seeks Digital TV Delay

With only six weeks to go before the scheduled transition, President-elect Barack Obama is asking Congress to delay the conversion of the nation's television stations to digital transmission. John Podesta, the Obama transition team co-chairman, said government funding to support the switch is "woefully inadequate" and is urging the Feb. 17 date to be "reconsidered and extended." In 2005, Congress authorized a decision for stations to cease their analog transmissions and only broadcast in digital form, a move that requires consumers who don't have a digital-ready TV to purchase converter boxes. In December, Nielsen Media Research said 7.8 million households had not upgraded any of their television sets for the transition. Broadcasters ABC and NBC say they support a delay, while CBS said in a statement it is open to the suggestion, reports the New York Times.