Digital TV Switch Not Extended for Some

2009-02-08 04:42:13 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - News, Technology)

some broadcasters will drop analog signals by February 17

Some television stations plan to stick by original date for mandatory digital programming switch.

Wired PR News.com – Some TV viewers may not receive the full benefit of the extension Congress granted for the mandatory digital TV switch. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), some television stations plan to proceed with dropping analog broadcasts by the original date of February 17. This leaves many with antennas at risk of losing their signal before the extended date in June.

Reasons provided for some broadcasters choosing to go with the February date for making the switch include being inconvenienced by delays, particularly those who had prescheduled maintenance or engineering work for the transition. Mark Norman of OETA is quoted in the AP report as stating, “We have four full-power stations all with 30-year-old-plus analog transmitters that are costly to maintain, putting out less than a quality signal…Sitting right alongside them are brand-new digital transmitters that have been running now for a few years. We just think it’s counterproductive to continue to put money into the old ones.”

Photo Credit: Everaldo Coelho