Best Buy announced the launch of two new digital programs to help prepare consumers for the analog to digital broadcast transition (DTV). The microsite, www.askablueshirt.com, gives consumers access to Best Buy home theater professionals and DTV-related educational information. In addition, the company also launched an interactive application on the social networking site Facebook, which boasts 90 million active users worldwide, to further promote DTV awareness.
“With the transition date approaching, we want to do whatever we can to help educate people about their options,” said Mike Mohan, senior vice president of consumer electronics for Best Buy. “The Facebook application and our microsite will reach out to new audiences with this message, encouraging young people to make sure they are ready for DTV, and to help family and friends who have not yet prepared.”
Askablueshirt.com features several unique resources for consumers including a blog forum and a frequently asked questions section based on the insights of Best Buy salespeople who answer these questions everyday. The DTV blog provides a medium for Best Buy BlueShirt specialists to communicate with consumers and answer questions about the DTV transition. The subject matter ranges from how to participate in the coupon program established by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to the benefits of a digital broadcast signal. Consumers also have the opportunity to post comments and responses to the blog posts. Visitors to the site will be able to forward the information to others to educate and assist friends and family members on making the transition.
The Best Buy Facebook application was developed to further engage consumers and utilize a “teach the teacher” concept of reaching additional audiences impacted by the DTV transition. The quiz mixes entertaining questions about popular TV shows from the ‘80’s and 90’s and incorporates DTV-related questions for an educational component. The “forward to a friend” Facebook feature encourages the application users to pass-along the information to other friends as well as educate older family members about the transition. Consumers can download the application from either Facebook or askablueshirt.com.
