TechnoBabble

On Thursday August 21, it will be exactly 180 days until all full power television in the United States will be digital. That means 6 months left for TV stations and viewers alike to be ready.

For the people in Wilmington, they have less than 3 weeks, at noon on September 8th, before they loose full power analog TV. This is because the FCC was looking for a test market to see what would happen when a whole market turns off analog signals and Wilmington volunteered. So we will see what happens.

Wilmington, being small, only has 7 TV stations total. WWAY, the ABC affiliate, WECT, the NBC affiliate, WSFX, the FOX affiliate, and two low power stations, WILM, the CBS affiliate and W51CW broadcasting the Trinity Broadcasting Network will cease programming on their analog channels. The stations will be broadcasting a graphic on the analog channels for a month explaining that they have switched all their programming to digital and how it can be received. But since we are moving into main hurricane season, the FCC will allow those 6 stations participating in the test to restart analog programming if the coast is threatened by a hurricane this season. The state owned UNC PBS station for Wilmington, WUNJ, is not participating in the test, but will have to cease analog broadcasting by February 17, 2009 as the rest of the full power TV stations in the nation.

From what I have been told, people in Wilmington are for the most part ready for the analog shutdown, be it with digital converters for TVs not digital capable and new or upgrading current subscriptions to cable or satellite. The area has been "carpet bombed," as was described to me, by advertisements and announcements on and off air of the pending shutdown date. I have a cousin who lives in Wilmington who seems to know more about the transition than I do so I would say the people in Wilmington are as about ready as they are going to get. From media reports, those who aren't ready, have chosen to be.

The nation watches to see how this test goes.

Here in the Triad, we seem to be in mid stream of all the changes with everyone I come in contact with having knowledge of the transition on February 17. We get quite a few calls here at the station from people asking questions requesting information and if they already have their converters can they start using them now! (Well of course you can!!)  We also have been speaking to organizations on the transition and if you have a group that would be interested in hearing about the latest on the transition and what they need to do be ready, contact me here at the station and I will be happy to set up a date to come speak to you group.

Remember, 6 months to go! Are you ready?