Sears to sell Dish Network DTVPal

[dkennedy]

Sears to sell Dish Network DTVPal digital to analog converter

July 17, 2008

By Shane McGlaun, SlipperyBrick.com

Most of us know thanks to the gobs of press and TV commercials that early in 2009 most broadcasters are switching to all digital broadcasts as mandated by the FCC. The switch means that TV watchers without cable, satellite or new digital ready TVs will need a converter box to keep watching TV.

Sears announced today that it would be carrying the Dish Network DTVPal converter box in all of its stores across the country. Dish says that its converter box is the only one with nationwide customer care and service. The box also features an electronic program guide and a remote that can control the TV volume for users.

Set-up is made easier by on screen instructions as well. The cost of the DTVPal is $59.99. The converter is approved to participate in the government coupon program and Sears can accept the $40 coupons at any of its stores making the converter cost $19.99. The converter also offers analog pass though to allow watching of low power stations that may not transition in early 2009 to digital broadcasts.

[dkennedy]

Sears to Sell Dish's DTV Converter Box

The converter costs $59.99.

July 17, 2008

By Phillip Swann, tvpredictions.com

Sears announced today that it will sell the new Dish Network 'DTVPal' digital converter box in approximately 700 stores.

The converter, which retails for $59.99, will convert digital signals to analog so they can be displayed on old analog sets next February when the nation switches to Digital TV.

On February 17, 2009, all full-powered local stations must switch their analog signals to digital which means viewers will need a Digital TV, a digital converter box or a pay TV subscription to watch television.

With a $40 converter coupon from the federal government, a consumer would only have to pay $19.95 for the Dish Network box.

The DTVPal comes with a 'setup wizard,' an electronic program guide with up to seven days of program listings, parental controls, program search, auto tune timers for program recording on a connected VCR and closed caption support.

The box also has a signal strength screen pop-up that can troubleshoot lost signals.

"The DTVPal by DISH Network is one of the highest-rated digital-to-analog converter boxes on the market, and we are thrilled to be able to offer it at Sears," said Tom Stingley, executive vice president of Sales and Distribution for DISH Network.

Sears says the DTVPal will be available in 511 of its full-line stores nationwide and at 194 Sears Dealer stores.