December 15, 2011

Antenna Maker Targets Cable Cord-Cutters

WallTenna is promoting an indoor antenna for $40 and touting it as a way to access broadcast stations for free over the air (OTA) and cut the cable cord.

According to WallTenna, only 15 percent of U.S. households currently take advantage of free OTA broadcasts, which were mandated as part of the 2009 Digital TV transition that required all full-power television stations to provide all-digital broadcasts over the air. OTA picture quality is also touted as brighter and crisper than what consumers receive from pay TV. Cable or satellite providers use data compression that compromises picture quality.

“The majority of consumers simply don’t know that OTA broadcasts exist; they assume that they need cable to get their favorite TV stations,” said WallTenna inventor Snowdon Parlette, in a statement. “But the reality is that digital OTA broadcasts are free and deliver better picture quality – you just need to access those free channels using a powerful antenna.”

Ultra thin and weighing just three ounces, WallTenna hangs on any wall and its crystal clear design means it can also be affixed to a window without blocking the light and is ideal for people living in apartments, condos or dorms who can’t have rooftop antennas. The omni-directional design ensures that WallTenna receives broadcasts from multiple directions. It’s also compatible with TiVo and other DVR recording devices.