SMITHFIELD, N.C. - (Business Wire) Channel Master by PCT (
www.pctinternational.com/channelmaster), a U.S. manufacturer of consumer off-air reception products, announced today approval by the U.S. Government's National Telecommunications and Infrastructure Administration (NTIA) of its new CM-7000 digital to analog converter box as a coupon eligible converter box.
Released earlier this year, the CM-7000 digital to analog converter box is now a qualified converter box in the Coupon-Eligible Converter Box program supporting the U.S. digital broadcast conversion. Industry estimates indicate that over 60 million converter boxes will be necessary to comply with the FCC’s mandated analog to digital conversion. To date, 7.7 million* coupon applications have been submitted to the NTIA for the February 2009 cut off date.
“We are pleased to earn NTIA eligibility with our quality CM-7000 digital to analog converter box that allows U.S. households easy transition to all digital off-air broadcasts. And, as an NTIA approved coupon eligible converter box, the CM-7000 allows that transition to occur with minimal costs to each household,” announces Larry Hiney, Managing Director, Channel Master by PCT. “When combined with a quality, trusted Channel Master off-air antenna, the CM-7000 converter box brings the digital experience into homes and businesses without any subscription fees.”
The Channel Master by PCT new CM-7000 digital to analog converter box allows consumers to view high definition (HD) and digital television (DTV) broadcasts on their analog televisions. Demand by consumers for digital to analog converter boxes is expected to be strong as consumers who rely on indoor or outdoor TV antennas will not be forced to buy new costly high definition televisions (HDTVs).
CM-7000 is easy to set up and offers user friendly features such as onscreen program guide, closed captioning, parental control, full function remote control, and a standby mode for energy savings. The CM-7000 remote control uses standard remote codes that allow it to be operated by a universal remote. When combined with a quality digital compatible antenna, over-the-air digital programming provides a better viewing experience than standard over-the-air analog programming with a CM-7000.
Although the FCC has scheduled the conversion date for February 2009, consumers can act now to begin using this new device and receive digital quality broadcasts and more programming content via multicasting with their analog TVs. Digital programming is currently being broadcast over 1628 stations in 211 markets** across the USA and new channels are continuously being added.
* National Telecommunications and Infrastructure Administration (NTIA), http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/status.html
** National Association of Broadcasters, http://www.nab.org/AM/aspcode/dtvstations/dtvstations.asp
About Channel Master by PCT
Channel Master by PCT (based out of Smithfield, NC and Tempe, AZ) is the terrestrial and satellite division of PCT International, Inc. Channel Master television reception products have long been the industry leader in "Last Mile Applications". The company continues to manufacture a large selection of off-air reception products for local television reception and HDTV, digital converter boxes, as well as cable, connectors, active & passive devices and high performance optics equipment. Product solutions include applications that deliver multimedia, data, internet, telephony, audio, video, and other information related transmissions, our company manufactures and markets quality, cost-effective Channel Master branded products for the following: Off-Air and satellite (IFD) distribution equipment; broadcast reception antennas, mounts, hardware and accessory, products; coaxial cable, connectors, tools; and structured wiring products. Visit www.pctinternational.com for additional information.
About PCT International, Inc. and Andes Industries, Inc.
PCT International, Inc. and its holding company, Andes Industries, Inc., is a leading worldwide manufacturer of last-mile products for broadband communication networks. PCT focuses on innovative and cost-effective solutions that allow service providers to improve system integrity and expansion of their service offerings. PCT's portfolio includes transmission and connectivity products for the broadband, CATV, satellite and structured wiring markets. PCT is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, and has over 1,500 employees. PCT maintains multi-international locations to support worldwide manufacturing, logistics, and distribution of its products and services. For more information, please visit www.pctinternational.com.
Channel Master by PCT
Larry Hiney, Managing Director, 1-919-989-6392
lhiney@pctintl.com
or
PCT International, Inc.
Tammy Boelter, Director of Marketing, +1-480-603-0658
tboelter@pctintl.com
