Calls for delaying digital TV switchover - Page 5

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

The message you replied to was a comment deriding the concept that television is a right. You replied that it was (and you're right about that), because it is a "public resource, owned by the People" (you're correct about that, too). What I disagree about is the inference that the fact that spectrum is a public resource implies that access to television is a right.

My earlier example wasn't good enough. Here's another few: Public lands are regularly leased through the Department of the Interior for commercial uses (oil drilling, logging, etc.). While under lease, those lands are not open to the public, unless the lease says they are, or the lessee decides they are. There is a patch of federal land near where I work, which leased to a defense contractor, and is strictly off-limits to the "People". There are government-owned bodies of water that swimmers and boaters are banned from. And so on....

There are many ways the People can benefit from national resources -- one acceptable (and common) arrangement is simply that the government gets money for (exclusive) use.

What makes television a right is the fact that the government has determined that it is.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Absolutely. What I meant by "that's not what I said" is that I wasn't saying that access to all national resources is a right. In many cases, the public interest is better served by the public not having access. Secret military bases, strategic petroleum reserves, the oval office, etc. etc. There is plenty of spectrum that has never been utilized by the public for broadcasting, and never will be. All of these national resources are owned by the People, but they are not public resources for obvious reasons. The spectrum used by commercial radio and television is a public resource, made as such by precedent and law.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I just checked and it seems that all but one of my local stations have stopped broadcasting the analog signal. The last remaining analog channel has announced they will stop on the original date. So, in my area, this won't be an issue.

Although I will say that, if this is what digital TV is going to be like, I'm ready to go back.

With the digital tuner, I only get three channels. An NBC, ABC, and FOX. The ABC and FOX have issues. The NBC is crystal clear. Better than on cable TV.

Despite living in the same town as the CBS and PBS stations, their signal is very weak, and I can't get it with my current antenna. On my old analog TV, they came in fine.

Not to mention the fact that I used to get five or six other channels from other markets, that I used to be able to watch. Now, none of them come in.

So, I've gone from 10 channels on over the air broadcast to 3.

Since I have cable, it isn't something I'm ALL that worried about. But often when I'm Tivoing something, I'll put on the antenna for a sort of second TV.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Did you check the coverage maps for your area, Jon? You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that your digital stations will be increasing power once the transition takes place. Many are.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

As far as I know, here in Atlanta, all the stations are going to be switching over this month.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

How do I check the date of my local channels switchover?

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Google?

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Or go to the local stations website.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Neither is necessarily going to be enlightening, since the rules for switching in February were just released this last week, and some stations that previously were all set to switch now have changed their minds. The folks at RabbitEars.Info are keeping their list up-to-date from the FCC filings, directly, so that is going to be the best, and perhaps only, resource for this information, in the short-term, short of going to the FCC site directly yourself and scouring it for the filings from your local stations.

>>> http://rabbitears.info/termlist.php

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Thanks Brian.
Now if I could only figure out the real reason behind the delay. The current reason given doesn't make sense too me.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Right now, my local Fox affiliate is still planning to shut-off Analog service on February 17th, my NBC affiliate is planning to extend Analog service until the new June deadline (even though the increased cost will probably require laying off yet another employee), and the CBS affiliate WRGB (one of the oldest TV stations in the country) is waiting for a directive from its corporate parent. The CW affiliate is owned by the WRGB's parent company, so will probably do whatever WRGB does. No word yet from the PBS affiliate.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

All stations in my area are still switching February 17th. Several apparently cut way back on their analog power many months ago. I've also seen lots of tests where they go straight digital for a few minutes. If you still see the picture, you're OK, if not, better get it taken care of quickly.

Major procrastinator, I admit it, but finally got two converters on February 3rd, just four hours before my discount cards expired.

Have a Walmart about a mile away, and all they had were Magnavox TB110MW9s. Good, bad, who knows, to late now.

Only $50 each, but naturally got screwed on the state sales tax. They ended up costing me $20 plus almost $9 in tax (based on $100, not the $20).

Hadn't been to a Walmart in years, but apparently they don't trust their customers or employees any longer. There must have been 100 or more security cameras hanging from the ceiling. They're all behind those dark glass globes, so a lot of them are probably empty, but I suppose they're still a good deterrent to shoplifters, etc. But just one more thing to make the stores even more tacky than ever.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I thought taxes were high in Massachusetts! I'm glad I don't live where you do!

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Frankly, IMHO, (as a TV repairman in a 100% UHF market for 37 years), I don't think the technical issues can be resolved until after the change.

Stations will be changing frequencies, changing antennas, changing directional patterns, changing power, changing antenna height. Antenna amplifiers and distribution systems at the receiving end will no longer have to absorb high power analog interference and overloads. Multipath distortion (ghosting in the analog world) will be impossible to predict until the change.

Even in my small market, (six transmitters, 10 channels), I can't predict the new reception patterns: and I used to install MATV systems for a previous employer.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

In Albany, WXXA is the only major affiliate switching on the original date. The others are all going to wait until June (although WNYT, and probably others, won't be broadcasting on analog at full power). Not sure about WMHT, though, as that's the only one I haven't heard about.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Here's a PDF listing the stations, by market, that have switched/are switching to digital-only prior to 2/17, followed by a listing of stations that are still scheduled to make the switch ON 2/17.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Thanks. No stations of note in the D/FW area.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

The FCC has now published a full list of all full-power television stations in the United States, with those terminating analog broadcasts on or before February 17 highlighted in red. It's in the same format as the TelevisionWeek list posted by Scott.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I forgot to mention, the list was issued with the following caveat:

We remind stations that intend to terminate analog operations on February 17, 2009 that
consistent with their public interest responsibilities and Congress’ delay of the transition to June 12 to
give consumers additional time to prepare, the Commission has reserved the right to limit or reconsider
the partial waiver of the Third Periodic Review Report & Order’s early termination procedures granted in
the February 5 Public Notice in the event that the Commission determines that analog termination on
February 17 by a station or group of stations is contrary to the public interest. In such event, the
Commission will promptly notify the affected station or stations.⁸ The Commission may consider such
action if, for example, it finds that all or most of the stations in a market will terminate their analog
service on February 17, and that the market is one in which many viewers are unprepared for the
transition or at risk if the transition proceeds. In such case, the Commission may require affected stations
to submit additional information to explain and justify how their early termination advances the public
interest. Such additional information can include significant economic, technical, contractual and other
business reasons that support termination on February 17, and efforts being made to protect consumers
from service disruptions. The Commission will scrutinize such information closely in light of the
important interests at stake to determine whether a compelling case has been made. So not all the stations listed will necessarily be able to shut off analog on Tuesday.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

The FCC has announced that stations that will have to provide more information before being allowed to cease analog broadcasts on Tuesday:

FCC 09-7

February 11, 2009

 

FCC Requires Public Interest Conditions for Certain Analog TV Terminations on February 17, 2009

 

Certain Stations Must Respond By Friday, February 13, 2009

 

On February 5, 2009, the Commission released a Public Notice, FCC 09-6 (“February 5th Public Notice”), in which it granted a partial waiver of the Third DTV Periodic Report and Order to permit television broadcast stations to cease analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, despite the extension of the national DTV transition deadline to June 12, 2009 pursuant to the DTV Delay Act.[1]  In the February 5th Public Notice, the Commission reserved the right to limit or reconsider the partial waiver if we determine that analog termination on February 17 by a station or group of stations is contrary to the public interest.[2]  As explained in the February 5th Public Notice, the primary concern of the Commission is to ensure that viewers relying on over-the-air television do not lose access to local news, public affairs and emergency information before they are ready for the full power television transition to all-digital television service.  It was this concern that prompted the Congress to delay the digital transition until June 12, 2009, and it is this concern that prompts our action here.

 

We have now reviewed the 491 termination notices filed by the stations intending to end analog service on February 17, 2009.[3]  We find that 368 of these stations may proceed with their intended termination of analog service on February 17th.  We remind these stations of their obligations to provide viewer notifications and continuous crawls before they terminate their analog service on Tuesday, February 17, 2009.[4]  Over 100 stations indicated that they will provide nightlight-type service for at least two weeks on their analog channel.  This nightlight service should include DTV education and emergency information, as needed.  We also strongly urge these stations to increase their local outreach efforts in their communities.  To assist the consumers in these markets, the Commission is assessing and re-deploying field staff and resources to key locations where stations are terminating on February 17.  We are also coordinating with our contractors, partners, and industry stakeholders to provide extra support in these areas.  The Commission is also mobilizing the expanded Call Center, in conjunction with industry groups, to assist with expected increase in call volume on February 17th, and the days just before and after these analog terminations. We will do our utmost to assure that, with the cooperation of the stations in these markets, and our outreach partners, the partial transition moves with minimum disruption to viewers.

 

We also commend the two-thirds of stations that will remain on the air, providing analog service beyond February 17, 2009.  We appreciate that many of these stations are committed to continuing to provide analog service to their viewers until the new DTV transition deadline of June 12, 2009.  We also recognize that there are some stations that are planning to terminate analog service before June 12, 2009.  We are evaluating whether a revised process for these stations would be warranted.[5]

 

In contrast to the stations remaining on the air and those that have previously terminated analog service or complied with the Third DTV Periodic Report and Order procedures to terminate analog service before February 17th, we have identified 123 stations of the 491 intending to terminate analog service on February 17th whose early termination poses a significant risk of substantial public harm.[6]  We developed this list of stations by first identifying the markets in which all of the stations would be terminating analog service on February 17, 2009.  We also identified markets in which affiliates of all four of the major networks, ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, would be terminating analog service, or, in markets that do not have affiliates of all four networks, we determined if all of the major networks broadcasting in those markets would be terminating their analog service on February 17th.[7]  We also considered loss of major network service in cities within the larger DMAs.  We considered the presence of major networks and their affiliates critical to ensuring that viewers have access to local news and public affairs available over the air because the major network affiliates are the primary source of local broadcast news and public affairs programming.  Therefore, even if independent or non-commercial stations remain on the air in these markets, we still considered these areas at risk.  The stations and markets that we identified in this analysis are attached in the Appendix.[8]

 

Accordingly, we hereby reconsider the partial waiver granted by the February 5th Public Notice to those stations listed on the Appendix attached to this Public Notice.  These stations are, therefore, not permitted to terminate their analog service on February 17th, unless they comply with the conditions and procedures described below.  Any station that was listed in Appendix A to the February 17, 2009 Termination List Public Notice, DA 09-221,[9] and is not listed in the Appendix to this PN, is expected to proceed with termination of its analog service on that date, subject to the conditions previously described in the February 5th Public Notice.

 

Stations listed in the Appendix to this Public Notice may obtain reinstatement of the waiver necessary for them to terminate analog service on February 17, 2009 by certifying to the Commission, not later than the close of business (6:00 pm EST) on Friday, February 13th, that they will individually undertake the measures specified herein as a means of ameliorating the public interest harms that the termination of their analog service would engender.  We also encourage stations in the markets listed in the Appendix to cooperate and undertake the actions on a joint basis. Each station should certify in response to this Public Notice its compliance with the following eight measures.[10] These certifications will reflect that the station is undertaking the action individually or that they have confirmed that another station will do so.

 

• Ensure that at least one station that is currently providing analog service to an area within the DMA that will no longer receive analog service after February 17, 2009 will continue broadcasting an analog signal providing, at a minimum, DTV transition and emergency information, as well as local news and public affairs programming (“enhanced nightlight” service[11]) for at least 60 days following February 17, 2009.  The local news, public affairs, or other programming may include commercial advertising.
• Ensure that on-air educational information (prior to February 17 and thereafter as part of “enhanced nightlight” service) will include demonstrations of converter box installations, antenna setups, and other helpful information.
• Ensure that enhanced nightlight service concerning the DTV transition or emergency information will be provided in Spanish and English and accessible to the disability community (e.g., silent scrolls or slates do not provide information to the visually impaired, and therefore, broadcast notices must have an aural component, as well as being closed or open captioned).
• Ensure that the DTV educational information, both on-air and through other means, will provide information describing areas that may be losing over-the-air signal coverage temporarily or permanently as the station transitions to digital-only broadcasting. Such information may include detailed maps, listings of affected communities, and instructions on how to assess what type of antenna may be necessary to retain or regain the station’s digital signal, as well as identifying specific locations that will not be able to receive a digital signal regardless of antenna.
• Each station individually or collectively in the market commits to assisting viewers by providing local or toll-free telephone assistance, including engineering support.  Such assistance may be provided jointly with other stations, organizations, and businesses in the area. 
• Each station alone or together with other stations or local businesses and organizations in the market will provide a location and staff for a consumer “walk-in” center to assist consumers with applying for coupons and obtaining converter boxes, to demonstrate how to install converter boxes, to provide maps and lists of communities that may be affected by coverage issues, and to serve as a redistribution point for consumers who are willing to donate coupons, converter boxes, televisions and for those in need of these items.
• Each station, individually, is complying with the obligation established in the February 5th Public Notice to broadcast a crawl on their analog channel regarding the station’s termination of analog service, for the seven day period from February 10 through the termination of the station’s analog signal on February 17.  For the first five days, the crawl must be aired for 5 minutes of every hour of the station’s analog broadcast day, including during primetime.   For the final two days, the crawl must be aired for 10 minutes of every hour of the station’s analog broadcast day, including during primetime. Each station will include in the crawl the FCC toll-free number for our Call CenterlaceType> (1-888-CALLFCC, 1-888-225-5322) beginning as soon as possible following the release of this Public Notice. 

  ·        Each station will consider and is encouraged to coordinate with and use community resources to provide consumer outreach and support, including in-home assistance.

 

Stations listed in the Appendix that do not certify that they will undertake the actions described above may make an alternative showing to the Commission that extraordinary, exigent circumstances, such as the unavoidable loss of their analog site or extreme economic hardship, require that they terminate their analog service on February 17th.  The showing should not exceed five (5) pages, not including attachments.[12]  We do not anticipate that many stations will be able to meet the high burden applicable to this showing.  Any station electing to make this showing must await a determination by the Commission that its showing is sufficient before terminating analog service.  The Commission will endeavor to resolve all of these cases prior to February 17th.

 

Stations certifying to the above conditions are permitted to cease analog operations on February 17, 2009 without further authorization from the Commission.[13]  Pursuant to this Public Notice, we restore the waiver to be effective at the time the station certifies compliance with the public interest conditions.

The FCC reserves the right to take appropriate action against stations that certify they will meet the conditions, fail to do so and nevertheless go off the air on February 17, 2009.

 

For additional information, contact Barbara Kreisman, Barbara.Kreisman@fcc.gov, of the Media Bureau, Video Division, at (202) 418-1600.

 

Action taken by the Commission on February 11, 2009:  Acting Chairman Michael J. Copps and Commissioners Jonathan S. Adelstein and Robert M. McDowell.

 

 

 

- FCC -

Here's the list of stations that might not be able to shut off as expected:

DMA	CITY	ST	NETWORK	CALLSIGN	NITE LITE	PRE 2/17	ON  2/17	LICENSEE
ALPENA	ALPENA	MI	CBS	WBKB-TV	N		X	THUNDER BAY BROADCASTING CORPORATION.
BAKERSFIELD	BAKERSFIELD	CA	ABC	KERO-TV	N		X	MCGRAW-HILL BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.
BAKERSFIELD	BAKERSFIELD	CA	CBS	KBAK-TV	N		X	FISHER BROADCASTING - CALIFORNIA TV, L.L.C.
BAKERSFIELD	BAKERSFIELD	CA	NBC	KGET-TV	N		X	HIGH PLAINS BROADCASTING LICENSE COMPANY LLC
BILLINGS	HARDIN	MT	FOX	KHMT	N		X	MISSION BROADCASTING, INC.
BILLINGS	BILLINGS	MT	ABC	KSVI	N		X	NEXSTAR BROADCASTING, INC.
BILLINGS	BILLINGS	MT	CBS	KTVQ	N		X	KTVQ COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
BILLINGS	BILLINGS	MT	NBC	KULR-TV	N		X	MMM LICENSE II LLC
BINGHAMTON	BINGHAMTON	NY	CBS	WBNG-TV	N		X	WBNG LICENSE, INC.
BINGHAMTON	BINGHAMTON	NY	FOX	WICZ-TV	N		X	STAINLESS BROADCASTING, L.P.
BINGHAMTON	BINGHAMTON	NY	NBC	WIVT	N		X	NEWPORT TELEVISION LICENSE LLC
BLUEFIELD-BECKLEY-OAK HILL	BLUEFIELD	WV	NBC	WVVA	Y		X	WVVA TELEVISION,  INC.
BOWLING GREEN	BOWLING GREEN	KY	NBC	WNKY	N		X	MMK LICENSE LLC
BURLINGTON-PLATTSBURGH	NORTH POLE	NY	NBC	WPTZ	Y		X	HEARST-ARGYLE STATIONS, INC.
BURLINGTON-PLATTSBURGH	HARTFORD	VT	NBC	WNNE	N		X	HEARST-ARGYLE STATIONS, INC.
BURLINGTON-PLATTSBURGH	BURLINGTON	VT	ABC	WVNY	N		X	LAMBERT BROADCASTING OF BURLINGTON, LLC
BURLINGTON-PLATTSBURGH	BURLINGTON	VT	CBS	WCAX-TV	Y		X	MT. MANSFIELD TELEVISION, INC.
CASPER-RIVERTON	RIVERTON	WY	FOX	KFNE	N		X	FIRST NATIONAL BROADCASTING CORP.
CASPER-RIVERTON	LANDER	WY	CBS	KGWL-TV	N		X	MARK III MEDIA, INC.
CHARLESTON-HUNTINGTON	HUNTINGTON	WV	CBS	WOWK-TV	N		X	WEST VIRGINIA MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC
CHARLESTON-HUNTINGTON	HUNTINGTON	WV	NBC	WSAZ-TV	Y		X	GRAY TELEVISION LICENSEE, LLC
CHARLESTON-HUNTINGTON	CHARLESTON	WV	ABC	WCHS-TV	Y		X	WCHS LICENSEE, LLC
CHARLESTON-HUNTINGTON	CHARLESTON	WV	FOX	WVAH-TV	Y		X	WVAH LICENSEE, LLC
CHARLOTTESVILLE	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	CBS	WCAV	N		X	GRAY TELEVISION LICENSEE, LLC
CHARLOTTESVILLE	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	NBC, CW	WVIR-TV	N		X	VIRGINIA BROADCASTING CORPORATION
CHEYENNE-SCOTTSBLUFF	CHEYENNE	WY	FOX	KLWY	N		X	WYOMEDIA CORPORATION
COLUMBUS-TUPELO-WEST POINT	WEST POINT	MS	FOX	WLOV-TV	N		X	LINGARD BROADCASTING CORPORATION
COLUMBUS-TUPELO-WEST POINT	TUPELO	MS	NBC	WTVA	N		X	WTVA, INC.
DAYTON	DAYTON	OH	ABC	WKEF	Y		X	WKEF LICENSEE L.P.
DAYTON	DAYTON	OH	CBS	WHIO-TV	Y		X	MIAMI VALLEY BROADCASTING CORPORATION
DAYTON	DAYTON	OH	FOX	WRGT-TV	Y		X	WRGT LICENSEE, LLC
DAYTON	DAYTON	OH	NBC	WDTN	Y		X	WDTN BROADCASTING, LLC
EUGENE	EUGENE	OR	ABC	KEZI	N		X	KEZI, INC.
EUGENE	EUGENE	OR	CBS	KVAL-TV	N		X	FISHER BROADCASTING - OREGON TV, L.L.C.
EUGENE	EUGENE	OR	FOX	KLSR-TV	N		X	CALIFORNIA OREGON BROADCASTING, INC.
EUGENE	EUGENE	OR	NBC	KMTR	N		X	NEWPORT TELEVISION LICENSE LLC
EUGENE	COOS BAY	OR	CBS	KCBY-TV	N		X	FISHER BROADCASTING - OREGON TV, L.L.C.
EUGENE	COOS BAY	OR	NBC	KMCB	N		X	NEWPORT TELEVISION LICENSE LLC
FARGO-VALLEY CITY	VALLEY CITY	ND	CBS	KXJB-TV	N		X	PARKER BROADCASTING OF DAKOTA, LLC
FARGO-VALLEY CITY	FARGO	ND	NBC	KVLY-TV	N		X	HOAK MEDIA OF DAKOTA LICENSE, LLC
FARGO-VALLEY CITY	DEVILS LAKE	ND	ABC	WDAZ-TV	N		X	FORUM COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
GREENWOOD-GREENVILLE	GREENWOOD	MS	ABC	WABG-TV	Y		X	COMMONWEALTH BROADCASTING GROUP, INC.
GREENWOOD-GREENVILLE	GREENVILLE	MS	CBS	WXVT	N		X	SAGA BROADCASTING, LLC
HARRISONBURG	HARRISONBURG	VA	ABC	WHSV-TV	Y		X	GRAY TELEVISION LICENSEE, LLC
LA CROSSE-EAU CLAIRE	LA CROSSE	WI	ABC	WXOW-TV	Y		X	WXOW-WQOW  TELEVISION, INC.
LA CROSSE-EAU CLAIRE	LA CROSSE	WI	CBS	WKBT	N		X	QUEENB TELEVISION, LLC
LA CROSSE-EAU CLAIRE	LA CROSSE	WI	FOX	WLAX	N		X	GM LACROSSE LICENSING LLC
LA CROSSE-EAU CLAIRE	EAU CLAIRE	WI	ABC	WQOW-TV	Y		X	WXOW-WQOW  TELEVISION, INC.
LA CROSSE-EAU CLAIRE	EAU CLAIRE	WI	NBC	WEAU-TV	N		X	GRAY TELEVISION LICENSEE, LLC
LA CROSSE-EAU CLAIRE	CHIPPEWA FALLS	WI	FOX	WEUX	N		X	GM CHIPPEWA FALLS LICENSING LLC
LINCOLN-HASTINGS-KEARNEY, NE	SUPERIOR	NE	FOX	KSNB-TV	N		X	COLINS BROADCASTING CORPORATION
LINCOLN-HASTINGS-KEARNEY, NE	LINCOLN	NE	ABC	KLKN	N		X	CITADEL COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
LINCOLN-HASTINGS-KEARNEY, NE	LINCOLN	NE	CBS	KOLN	N		X	GRAY TELEVISION LICENSEE, LLC
LINCOLN-HASTINGS-KEARNEY, NE	KEARNEY	NE	ABC	KHGI-TV	N		X	PAPPAS TELECASTING OF CENTRAL NEBRASKA, L.P. (DE LTD P/SHIP)
LINCOLN-HASTINGS-KEARNEY, NE	HAYES CENTER	NE	ABC	KWNB-TV	N		X	PAPPAS TELECASTING OF CENTRAL NEBRASKA, L.P. (DE LTD P/SHIP)
MADISON	MADISON	WI	ABC	WKOW-TV	Y		X	WKOW TELEVISION, INC.
MADISON	MADISON	WI	CBS	WISC-TV	N		X	TELEVISION WISCONSIN, INC.
MADISON	MADISON	WI	FOX	WMSN-TV	Y		X	WMSN LICENSEE, LLC
MADISON	MADISON	WI	NBC	WMTV	N		X	GRAY TELEVISION LICENSEE, LLC
MERIDIAN	MERIDIAN	MS	ABC	WTOK-TV	N		X	GRAY TELEVISION LICENSEE, INC.
MERIDIAN	MERIDIAN	MS	CBS	WMDN	N		X	WMDN TV, LLC
MERIDIAN	MERIDIAN	MS	NBC	WGBC	N		X	WGBC-TV, LLC
MOBILE-PENSACOLA (FT WALT)	PENSACOLA	FL	ABC	WEAR-TV	Y		X	WEAR LICENSEE, LLC
MOBILE-PENSACOLA (FT WALT)	MOBILE	AL	CBS	WKRG-TV	N		X	MEDIA GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
MOBILE-PENSACOLA (FT WALT)	MOBILE	AL	FOX	WALA-TV	Y		X	LIN OF ALABAMA, LLC
MOBILE-PENSACOLA (FT WALT)	MOBILE	AL	NBC	WPMI-TV	N		X	NEWPORT TELEVISION LICENSE LLC
MONROE-EL DORADO	WEST MONROE	LA	FOX	KARD	N		X	NEXSTAR BROADCASTING, INC.
MONROE-EL DORADO	MONROE	LA	CBS	KNOE-TV	N		X	HOAK MEDIA OF LOUISIANA LICENSE, LLC
MONROE-EL DORADO	EL DORADO	AR	NBC	KTVE	N		X	MISSION BROADCASTING, INC.
MONROE-EL DORADO	COLUMBIA	LA	ABC	KAQY	N		X	PARKER BROADCASTING OF LOUISIANA LLC
NORTH PLATTE	NORTH PLATTE	NE	NBC	KNOP-TV	N		X	HOAK MEDIA OF NEBRASKA LICENSE, LLC
PARKERSBURG	PARKERSBURG	WV	NBC	WTAP-TV	Y		X	GRAY TELEVISION LICENSEE, LLC
PROVIDENCE-NEW BEDFORD	PROVIDENCE	RI	CBS	WPRI-TV	N		X	TVL BROADCASTING OF RHODE ISLAND, LLC
PROVIDENCE-NEW BEDFORD	PROVIDENCE	RI	FOX	WNAC-TV	Y		X	WNAC, LLC
PROVIDENCE-NEW BEDFORD	PROVIDENCE	RI	NBC	WJAR	N		X	MEDIA GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
PROVIDENCE-NEW BEDFORD	NEW BEDFORD	MA	ABC	WLNE-TV	N		X	GLOBAL BROADCASTING OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND LLC
QUINCY-HANNIBAL-KEOKUK	QUINCY	IL	NBC	WGEM-TV	N		X	QUINCY BROADCASTING COMPANY
QUINCY-HANNIBAL-KEOKUK	HANNIBAL	MO	CBS	KHQA-TV	N		X	Barrington Quincy License LLC
ROCKFORD	ROCKFORD	IL	ABC	WTVO	N		X	MISSION BROADCASTING, INC.
ROCKFORD	ROCKFORD	IL	FOX	WQRF-TV	N		X	NEXSTAR BROADCASTING, INC.
ROCKFORD	ROCKFORD	IL	NBC	WREX-TV	N		X	WREX TELEVISION, LLC
ROCKFORD	FREEPORT	IL	CBS	WIFR	N		X	GRAY TELEVISION LICENSEE, LLC
SALISBURY, MD	SALISBURY	MD	CBS AND FOX	WBOC-TV	N		X	WBOC, INC.
SALT LAKE CITY	ROCK SPRINGS	WY	CBS	KGWR-TV	N		X	MARK III MEDIA, INC.
SAN ANGELO	SAN ANGELO	TX	CBS	KLST	N		X	NEXSTAR BROADCASTING, INC.
SAN ANGELO	SAN ANGELO	TX	NBC	KSAN-TV	N		X	MISSION BROADCASTING, INC.
SANTABARBRA-SANMAR-SANLUOB	SANTA MARIA	CA	CBS	KCOY-TV	Y		X	COWLES CALIFORNIA MEDIA COMPANY
SANTABARBRA-SANMAR-SANLUOB	SANTA BARBARA	CA	ABC	KEYT-TV	N		X	SMITH MEDIA LICENSE HOLDINGS, LLC
SANTABARBRA-SANMAR-SANLUOB	SAN LUIS OBISPO	CA	NBC	KSBY	N		X	KSBY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
SIOUX CITY	SIOUX CITY	IA	ABC	KCAU-TV	N		X	CITADEL COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, LTD.
SIOUX CITY	SIOUX CITY	IA	CBS	KMEG	N		X	WAITT BROADCASTING, INC.
SIOUX CITY	SIOUX CITY	IA	FOX	KPTH	N		X	KPTH LICENSE, LLC
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Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

This argument is a horse of a different color from "is it a right?", which Adam replied to in the way I wish I had

I've read there were two competing plans: one to offer vouchers only to low-income households, requiring a modest Federal budget. The other was to offer them to everyone, with a very large pricetag. The political compromise was to offer it to everyone using the low-income-only budget. Hence, the voucher shortages.

Maybe we should have had an income threshold for the vouchers. The transition is of such a magnitude and singular event that vouchers for some were necessary, so we can agree on that

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Thanks and cheers! People forget the hardware-side of the equation here. All of the converter boxes you have on the market today were manufactured to technical specs set by Congress. This makes sense, since the boxes are pieces of hardware meant to fill a demand artifically created by congressional action. For the most part, this has resulted in a much richer feature set than consumers would have otherwise gotten, because the electronics companies would have stripped out anything unneccessary to get the most competitve price.

However the one big limitation imposed by Congress is that the DTA converter boxes only output an analog picture at 480i resolution. This limitation exists speciifically so those who can afford $1,800 HDTVs, but happened to buy them before digital tuners came standard, wouldn't gobble up all the coupons.

Of course, for many that don't have BluRay, DVD resolution for broadcast television would be just fine even on their big screen TV. But because of that limitation, the boxes are going to appeal most to those with old SD CRT sets. I'm sure there are going to be some old ladies out there with converter boxes jury-rigged to old B&W sets.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Someone got really upset about the switchover:

KARE: Man Shoots TV Over Converter Confusion - 2009-02-19 21:00:00 - Broadcasting & Cable

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Stories like this one always make me thing of Mike Judge's Idiocracy. Sometimes I feel like I can witness it beginning to happen:

The station reports that a 70-year-old Joplin man was arrested and charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm after shooting his TV set. Responding to a report of shots being fired, the station reported, the police found the man angry that he had both lost his cable and had been unable to get his new DTV converter box to work.

According to the man's wife, he had been drinking.

The national numbers give me better faith in humanity. According to the FCC, call volumes remained steady from before to after the switch:

Date	Call Volume
Friday, Feb. 13	11,819
Saturday, Feb. 14	8,178
Sunday, Feb. 15	7,324
Monday, Feb. 16	20,673
Tuesday, Feb. 17	27,764
Wednesday, Feb. 18	25,320
Thursday, Feb. 19	17,920

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I don't care if the switch happens or not so long as "Ow! My Balls!" isn't interrupted.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

Assuming there isn't another last-minute change, June 12th will be the last day that the analog stations are on the air- I had that clarified a couple days ago. Most stations will go off right at midnight, but some may do it earlier- KTXL in Sacramento will shut down at 9AM right after their morning news show. Since I don't have to work that day I'm planning on just watching analog TV all day until the last station is off the air or running a loop about how to install a digital tuner, which KICU did a couple days after February 17th. I just have an indoor antenna since I'm in an apartment, so I don't get perfect analog reception and won't be able to make any recordings, but hopefully enough people will be able to do this and put them online.

With what I've seen the past few days, they're certainly not letting it go out in style. I haven't watched much TV in the past 10 years, mostly because network shows keep logos on the screen all the time, but also because there are simply WAY too many commercials and so much programming is aimed at complete idiots. I know that's been said for years, but every year it seems to get worse.

Having seen how good perfect analog reception can be, I'm not convinced digital is the way to go either. It's usually an improvement if you just have an indoor antenna, but if you have an aimable roof antenna and are close enough to the transmitters, it may not be as much of one. Digital TV isn't technically perfect, and I'd be upset about that if there was anything on that I cared about- most stations use too much compression so there are digital artifacts (the blockiness effect), some of the sub-channels are so bad they look like Video-CD quality. The FCC should have set a minimum bitrate for each station so this didn't happen, but all they seem to care about is if anyone says any naughty words.

Re: Calls for delaying digital TV switchover

I'll just be glad when it's finally changed over. There is far too many interruptions about how the switch is coming... WE KNOW ALREADY, STOP WITH THE ADVERTISEMENTS!