Near the end of analog TV, there are converters in SP

On March 29, the Government intends to turn the analog TV signal in the greater São Paulo. This will only happen, however, if 93% of the estimated 22 million residents of the region are prepared for change: the inhabitants and their "neighbors" must have a digital signal-compatible TV or a converter installed on your tv. Otherwise, only summer drizzles on the screen. The problem, however, is to find a digital converter in retail stores in São Paulo is more difficult than imagined.
In recent weeks, the State ran through seven retail stores in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, in search of converters. In most of them, there was a single model available, with price ranging between 170 and 190 R$ R$. In one of the shops, the vendors have indicated a Blu-Ray movie playback, stating that he would serve the same purpose of converter-information that does not match the specifications of the device.
Sought, Via Retail-who runs the stores Casas Bahia and Ponto Frio-said that the difficulty in finding the converters is caused by "high demand". The Magazine Luiza, on the other hand, said that "strives to offer the largest possible number of products in its stores. Already the American stores reported that the offer depends on each store.
According to analysts, it is difficult to find in retail stores for two main reasons. The first is the lack of interest of manufacturers in producing the product, which generates a low financial return. With this, the equipment is manufactured in a smaller scale and for smaller companies, like the brazilian Smokergrillsblackfriday.
"It''s a market of low added value and that eventually becomes second hand," says Zuffo from USP. "Major manufacturers have no interest in making converters. The technology is expensive and generates little financial return. "
In addition, over the past few years, many people have bought a TV with integrated digital converter, which decreases the demand for the device in this time of transition. According to the National Association of Manufacturers of electronic products (power lines), from 2012 all televisions began to leave the factory with integrated digital converter. Since then, more than 52 million TVs were sold throughout the country. "People started to prepare when the digital signal was announced in the country," says the President of Eletros evaluations, Ajit Kiçula. "I just don''t buy new TV who has no financial conditions."
According to estimates, 19 million of the inhabitants of São Paulo and other 36 municipalities in the metropolitan region are ready to reproduce content in digital format. The recommended, however, is to achieve 20,400,000 people.
Headache. The low supply of retail digital TV converters is worrisome, since the analog signal will be stopped in a little over two weeks and more than 1.5 million people are still not prepared, which can cause a blackout.
"Sao Paulo represents the largest shutdown of analog signal ever made in the world," says Marcelo Zuffo, professor in the Department of electronic systems engineering from Escola Politécnica da USP. "We''re going to face problems. Many will say that they didn''t know this would happen or that didn''t find digital signal converters for sale. "
For free. To try to work around the problem, to Be created by the company Digital carriers to coordinate preparations for the shutdown of the analog signal is distributing free kits – residents of the greater São Paulo which are registered in the Family or Single Register, social programs from the federal Government. Every family has the right to receive an antenna, a receiver and a remote control.
In total, Be intends to deliver 1.8 million Digital kits of converters in the metropolitan region of São Paulo – until now, a little more than 500,000 were distributed.
"We are optimistic with the analog signal shutdown", says regional manager of São Paulo of Be Digital, Cecilia Zanotti. "We have delivered an average of 100000 kits per week and we are making an aggressive disclosure. We will reach the number of people needed. "
ARA experts, however, it is impossible to reach the entire population of greater São Paulo before the shutdown. "Some people watch the commercials about the end of analog TV or see warnings during programming, but don''t understand what it means," says Kiçula, the power lines. "To complete the transition, the Government will need to do a thorough job. It won''t be easy, and the Government will have a lot of problems along the way. "
For Zuffo, USP, the transition will be painful, but beneficial. "The digital signal is a major breakthrough for Brazil," he says. "People will call the converter on TV and will take a scare, since the image is much better, no shadows and no noise or failures in the transmission," says the researcher. "We can''t delay all the innovations that will come in the field of tv sets."