Many TV stations to make DTV switch next week

Despite a regulator-approved delay to the nationwide digital TV switchover, more than a third of the nation's TV stations plan to begin broadcasting completely in digital next week.

The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday released a list of 681 of the nation's 1,800 or so TV stations that plan to make the switch by February 17. TV stations were required to notify the FCC by Monday if they planned to turn off their analog TV signal on February 17.

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed a bill that moves the deadline for transitioning TV broadcast from analog to digital from February 17 to June 12. The Senate has also passed a similar bill. President Obama is expected to sign it into law shortly. However, a compromise provision allows broadcasters to transition to all-digital broadcasts early if they get permission from the FCC.

Congress approved the delay out of concern that 20 million people, most of whom are poor, elderly, and living in rural parts of the country, were not prepared for the transition after the government ran out of the $40 coupons it was issuing to help defray the cost of the converter boxes necessary to allow older TVs to get digital signals.

Stations have been preparing to cut off their analog broadcasts for the February 17 deadline for months. Leaving the analog signals on will likely cost them more money as they are required to pay for the additional electricity and facility costs of running multiple transmitters. Most stations have already been airing some programming in digital.

The major broadcast networks, including ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC/Telemundo, have all agreed that their owned and operated stations would continue to broadcast in analog until the new DTV transition date.

To see which local stations plan to switch on or before February 17, check the list released by the FCC (PDF). The column labeled Nite Lite indicates whether the station plans to keep its analog signal going for 30 days past the February 17 analog cut-off date in order to provide emergency and DTV education information.

[gsmiller88]

This is what I hoped for.

[sevenalive]

Why can't you fork over the $60 for the box, obviously you can afford internet.

Delaying the switch is going to cost millions, and cause mass chaos and confusion.

[shootthecops]

@gsmiller88: yea its great to see the stations are standing up and giving the finger to the govt. they should be MAKING money from people, not losing it on the costs it takes to broadcast to people that are being willfully ignorant of the transition.

[HeavyJim]

This MIGHT be a tragedy, if there where any programming worth watching. Reruns are getting very old. And I thing the powers in charge have forgotten how to produce anything original, much less entertaining. I cut off my cable, kept the internet, much better off.

[dwimmer38]

Obama's an idiot for wanting to delay. If you don't know and haven't prepared for the switch by now, then maybe you should be spending time in a library instead of watching TV?

[xcal78]

"Obama's an idiot for wanting to delay."

About as much of an idiot as you for not wanting to delay. Both of you can have an opinon on the matter without being an idiot since the ultimate person to make the call is Congress. Place the blame where it belongs in Bush's congress.

[superman227]

I like Obama, but the delay in the switch doesn't make sense. Those who haven't made the switch by now won't do it in June. Seeing an ad every other minute hasn't swayed these people. Go back to watching your radios. My workplace tv (still antenna) will still broadcast Jerry at 11am to the fans that love him. I'm convinced the WB is the only channel these guys watch.

[gerrrg]

Agree with you. Those that haven't already switched will likely not switch by the extended deadline.

[rucknrun]

What a cf.

[Drazhna]

I got a small & cheap TV and a cheaper antenna but it works where I am. Picking up a handful of digi-broadcasts already. Way cool. Picture looks better than the larger flat on cable, albeit's on smaller screen.

[rreigle]

just another example of big government being the big problem.

[sanenazok]

Everyone's already said enough about how stupid the delay is. What I find just hilarious is the FCC list. They didn't include OTA channel broadcast numbers. So unless you know the stations' call letters then the list is kinda useless. Unlike radio where the call letters are mentioned every 30 minutes, TV's are a formality. Way to go FCC.

[nmcphers]

Channel broadcast numbers are useless, since every cable provider has their own numbering scheme, and some of them often CHANGE them.

[biffhenerson]

You have 1/3 switching now and 2/3 delayed. What a mess! I am laughing! The current government is a joke. They cant even pull off a simple TV task. Way to confuse the heck out of poor grandma (elderly) and career of welfare uncle Joe (poor) and rancher John (rural). The government has screwed the very people they were trying to help by making it even more confusing. Lol.

[xcal78]

I love all the people who take a cheap shot at Obama to cover up for Bush's failure. Had Bush done his job this would have been done before Obama took office and inherited this disaster just like all the other disasters he inherited. Ofcourse well all know "Congress approved the delay" too which has absolutly nothing to do with the current administration. That was put in place durning the Bush regime. They need to just turn off analog and force those lazy people to save power or buy a box. If you can afford a box then upgrade if not then you can go without a TV for a few months till you save enough in saved power to re-direct that saving to buy a box. If they wouldn't afford a box in an entire year then a few more months isn't going to do squat.

[sanenazok]

Obama, the great leader that he is, came up with no solution to the "problem inherited by Bush" other than to delay. Never mind actually doing something directed at the problem of awful people keeping everyone else behind...instead he wants to wait it out. Congress has nothing to do with the current administration?? The delay started with Obama and Congress approved it as they should during the start of an administration.

[xcal78]

Obama followed Bush's lead as he was urged to delay BEFORE Obama took office but feel free to blame anyone you want it's America after all. The members of congress were put in office on the Bush watch. Congress can deny anything they want the's the point of 3 seperate branches of power. It'd be a miracle if a president that was only in office less then 6 days of which 2 were week-ends could get something passed. He took office 1/20 and this passed 1/26. Yea let's blame the new guy. :P

[xcal78]

FCC chair blames Bush administration for DTV problems
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-288191A1.pdf

[martin_c_e]

Obama stepped up to the plate and struck out on this one. He got what he asked for.

[umbrae]

I wish they would hurry up already. I am tired of having it switch from HD to SD just to get a weather warning or amber alert.

[scottthesculptor]

$1,900,000,000

for converter boxes

this is certainly a bad omen for any stimulus pakage if they coudn't pull off such a simple task with the first 1,300 million dollars

[sanenazok]

don't worry about it, Obama said that the spending bill will be free* of pork* so everything will be OK!

[xcal78]

Yea it's a shame the Bush Admin's stimulus bill did the job so we didn't need another one to fix the first one being trash. It's also a shame that the 2nd one was started by Bush admin as well. I'm sure we'll try to blame Obama since it'll pass on his watch even though it was put together on Bush's watch. The true test will be in 4 years is the situation better or worse then it started.

[qua17]

I feel there was enough time for
those that needed to prepare
to prepare. Now that there are
millions that are not ready for the
switch those of us that are ready
have to suffer. WRONG ! ANSWER!!!!