Best Buy goes Digital

As the government mandated all-digital broadcast TV deadline approaches (February 17, 2009), Best Buy decided to discontinue selling analogue TVs as of October 1st. This move comes on the heels of an announcement by John Kneuer that RadioShack had pledged to sell converter boxes by January 1st. Best Buy also pledges to sell the converter boxes (which will enable people with analogue TV's to receive and view digital broadcasts). Apparently they must not be selling or stocking enough analogue TV's where pulling them from their shelves would have a huge financial impact.

The converter-boxes will reportedly retail for around $60 but the public will be able to apply for two $40 off coupons through a government sponsored program. Best Buy's move seems to be geared to eliminating the need for such boxes as more and more people will be forced to purchase a digital TV. To date, no other retailer of the scope of Best Buy has made such a move but expect more to follow suit.