The Federal Communications Commission is taking one of the last steps in the transition from analog to digital television, issuing stations their final digital channel assignments.
The FCC last night announced the assignments for the country’s 1,800 stations. However, some last-minute requests for changes will be dealt with later.
The switch from analog to digital, due to take place Feb. 17, 2009, could rewrite some of the rules for local competition.
Proponents say digital technology eliminates TV signal ghosting and improves the TV picture, making it possible for viewers to get a far better over-the-air picture without cable or satellite, while potentially reducing reception differences between local stations.
How much the over-the-air changes matter in an age of cable and satellite isn’t yet clear.
As part of the switch, the FCC also is allowing some stations to change channel numbers.
The digital switch narrows the spectrum needs of broadcast TV. All the stations that now use channel 2 through channel 69 for analog signals will broadcast their digital signals in the spectrum space now used by channel 2 through channel 51.
In addition, the digital technology opens up some new local channel choices.
The FCC is requiring stations broadcasting on channels 52 to 69 to switch channel numbers, but for other stations, a switch is voluntary.
The FCC said about half of the 1,800 stations already are broadcasting digital signals on their assigned new frequencies.
(Editor: Horowitz)
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Comments (5)
Are we gonna get some satellite channels or something cause my old antenna could pick up some satellite channels but, not too clearly im hoping we get some nickelodeon or something hahah =)
Posted by Fake Man | June 19, 2008 11:04 AM
...the Coverage PATTERN is entirely different in "digital"....much harder to receive...but---IF---it locks IN...you've got a btfl pix...you must have to be within 40-50 miles and LINE OF SIGHT to the xmitter! ....we get two with piggy-backed channel here in ME....but thats with the OLD super YAGI element antenna. The PUBLIC will 'scream' about that...as they cannot receive all their channels. ITS a bonanza for the CABLE and Dish which are both already converted. BUT ---if you get the FTA Free To AIR signal of a 1080I broadcast...its magnificent!....however, in a personal test all the way fm Maine down to Orlando...every market...Hartford...Harrisburg...Charleston...Jacksonville...were full of problems..*ORLANDO was perfect and LOCKED IN on every STATiON! ...and thats due to the FLAT land topography of the land...way out to 75 AIRMILES at NASA....beautiful!!!....all the other BIG problems....a TRAIN WRECK for sure !!..you'll be out there hanging on an 'antennae'....trying to PIN POINT the middle of the signal!! ...if you don't get the composite signal-you don't get 1080i....incidentally, the 1080(P) is for Blue-RAY discs...no stations are bcstg in 1080 (p); as yet....only 1080i...fm the STATION over the air...you get the 'full' signal and the pix is like a photograph; that is--IF--it isn't breaking up into Digital BITS! ....happy 'dixing'....ds(Maine)...next MONDAY, 09/08/08 (**lucky Chinese numbers...) WILMINGTON NCarolina will turn OFF all 'analog'(NTSC) stations and telecast in 1080i....understand ABC Network is only in 720p ?? ....hope they change that...the 1080i we recv fm BANGOR is super for CBS and PBS....cannot receive any ABC or NBC-TV in 'digital' ??? ...its gonna be big problems....
Posted by ds | September 4, 2008 12:43 PM
Where can I get a phamflet which cross references both the old and new channels for my area?
Tukwila, Washington
98188
Posted by Barbara Arionus | January 2, 2009 3:20 PM
Same question as Barbara who asked in Jan. No answers????
Posted by Kate | February 20, 2009 6:24 PM
Need numbers from old channels to TV conversion
numbers. Where to find them?
Posted by Doree Richardson | March 9, 2009 11:53 AM