Rite Aid to Offer Digital Television Converter Boxes

Drugstore chain Rite Aid Corporation has announced that, to help customers with the transition to digital format television in early 2009, its stores will offer digital television converter boxes through March 2009.

Beginning at midnight on February 17, 2009, all television broadcast signals in the US will change to a 100% digital format as mandated by the federal government. Analog television sets receiving free television using an antenna will not work after this date.

Bryan Shirtliff, Rite Aid’s senior vice president of category management, said: “Customers can purchase a digital converter box at any of our stores and immediately begin enjoying the benefits of digital broadcasting, avoiding not only the last-minute scramble to do so next year but any disruption to their viewing habits once the switch takes place next year.”