Stations can still yank analog plug this month, though many won't

by Darren Murph posted Feb 6th 2009 at 2:01AM

Wow, this isn't confusing. At all. The on-again / off-again digital TV transition date -- which is now formally set for June 12th -- may or may not be honored by the hundreds upon hundreds of local broadcasters across America. You see, when Congress postponed the mandatory cutover date from its original place on the calender (February 17th), it also gave stations the option of sticking to that original date. Thus, what could end up happening is that half a city's local OTA stations would go all-digital in under two weeks, while the others delayed things until June. The good news is that most of the major US television networks (that's CBS, ABC, FOX and NBC) have reportedly decided to hold off until the new June date in order to prevent a chaotic series of events, but it's hard to say if each individual station will indeed abide. The bottom line? Get your converter box now if you need one, and if you're waiting around for one of those $40 vouchers, hats off to you and your patience.

Read - Optional cutover
Read - Broadcaster intent

Filed under: Industry, Regulatory, Tuners, OTA

Tags: 2009, cutover, digital TV, DigitalTv, dtv, DTV transition, DtvTransition, switchover, transition

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

monte @ Feb 6th 2009 3:52PM

They should pull the plug, the FCC has been pulling theirs. Anybody who has been watching TV should have seen the commercials by now. Pull it, then take care of the ding-dongs.

Highly Ranked

Dayton Guy @ Feb 6th 2009 8:47AM

All of the major broadcasters in Dayton, OH are switching on Feb 17 no matter what...
WDTN (NBC)
WHIO (CBS)
WBDT (CW)
WKEF (ABC)
WRGT (FOX)

Highly Ranked

gib @ Feb 6th 2009 10:24AM

Same here in Salt Lake City... The PBS stations are going to be the only ones left.

The date switch was a horrible idea, especially if people don't realize that they might not be able to watch anything because the local stations are not waiting.

Highly Ranked

Shoeboy @ Feb 6th 2009 9:07AM

People upgrade now, trust me you'll appreciate how much better things look.

Heck if you got a coupon and you look around hard enough you can get a DTV box under $10.

Neutral

Chris @ Feb 6th 2009 12:17PM

Every major broadcast network in Spokane, WA will be swtiching to digital on February 17th.

Neutral

Phoenixfury @ Feb 6th 2009 12:46PM

We only have 3 full power stations in our market (Southbend Indiana) that will be switching on the 17th this month. All of the other stations either switched already, or are low power and not required to switch yet. So really in our market, the delay doesn't really amount to anything with the exception of allowing people to get converter boxes that hadn't gotten them yet.

Neutral

Billy @ Feb 6th 2009 1:22PM

Anyone know if the stations here in NY will be swtiching to digital Feb 17?, is there a web site to fine this out?

Neutral

Ordeith @ Feb 6th 2009 1:40PM

I know our local NBC station is switching on Feb 17 no matter what.

Don't know about the others yet.

Highly Ranked

Matt DeCillis @ Feb 6th 2009 2:32PM

If you are waiting for a voucher, you should be shot! Stop taking our money and go buy a damn converter box with YOUR OWN money instead of other tax payers money!!!

Neutral

squiggleslash @ Feb 6th 2009 2:51PM

The vouchers were paid for by the 700MHz spectrum auction winners, the concept being that those who were forcing the removal of NTSC should compensate those who have to upgrade their televisions as a result. Nobody's taking "your money".

Neutral

Ordeith @ Feb 6th 2009 2:56PM

squigglegovernmentappolosplash:

The buyers of the specturm are now faced with a governmental breach of contract and are seeking compensation for the delay.

Our Tax dollars.

The delay, and the "stimulus" package is set to provide the coupon program with additional public funding.

Also, our tax dollars.

I think you enjoy being a government shill.

Neutral

squiggleslash @ Feb 6th 2009 4:10PM

Ordeith - And that drivel has what to do with converter box coupons exactly?

Right, absolutely nothing. Nothing at all.

Next week on "Ordeith hates the government": How franchise holder funded converter box coupons also caused 9/11, the Nazis, and Dane Cook.

Neutral

Ordeith @ Feb 6th 2009 8:09PM

Squiggle:

The coupon program is being extended with public money. That is something you are sure to have read and either completely ignored or lost the information during a cognitive malfunction.

There is also the cost of broadcasting PSA's for another four months to consider.

Take your head out of the sand and stop talking out your ass.

Neutral

Jack @ Feb 6th 2009 3:39PM

The article and story are misleading. Only the stations OWNED by ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Gannett, and Hearst-Argyle are affected. Most network stations are not owned by the network, so many network affliliates will be switching on Feb 17.

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