US set for TV digital switchover

More than two million households in the United States will be faced with blank television screens when stations switch off their analogue signal for good.

The nationwide transition to digital services has seen a last-minute rush to buy converter boxes and TVs.

In total the US authorities have spent $2bn to smooth the transition.

But, according to the Federal Communications Commission, there are still 2.2 million households which have made no preparations.

US television viewers have been bombarded with a series of adverts over recent weeks, warning them that the analogue signal would be switched off on Friday and urging them to buy set top converter boxes if they didn't want to lose reception.

The government has issued coupons, worth $40 each, to cover most of the cost.

Unlike the United Kingdom, where the analogue signal is being switched off region by region, the United Sates has decide to pull the plug in one go, across the nation.

This has led to accusations that some groups, especially the elderly and the low income households, have been left behind in the digital rush.