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Digital age: American stations switch off analog TV signal
Source: Agencies |
June 13, 2009, Saturday
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Print Edition
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TELEVISION stations across the United States started cutting their analog signals yesterday morning, ending a six-decade era for the technology and likely stranding more than 1 million unprepared homes without TV service.
The Federal Communications Commission put 4,000 operators on standby for calls from confused viewers, and set up demonstration centers in several cities.
Volunteer groups and local government agencies were helping elderly viewers set up digital converter boxes that keep older TVs functioning.
"When you're alone like me, that's my partner," Patricia Bruchalski, 82, said about her TV. Bruchalski, a pianist and former opera singer who lives in Maryland, got assistance on Thursday from Anne Arundel County's Department of Aging and Disabilities and a community organization called Partners in Care.
After her converter box was installed, Bruchalski marveled that digital broadcasts seemed clearer and gave her more channels - about 15 instead of the three she was used to.
"You're going to be up all night watching TV now," volunteer installer Rick Ebling told her.
A survey sponsored by broadcasters showed that Americans are well aware of the analog shutdown, thanks to a yearlong barrage of TV ads. But not everyone was sure exactly what it means, or what needs to be done to tune in to digital TV.
Any sets hooked up to cable or satellite feeds are unaffected. Newer, digital TVs that get broadcasts through antennas - and older sets hooked up to converter boxes - should be fine, but they will need to be set to "re-scan" the airwaves, to find stations that moved to new frequencies yesterday.
Some people might also need new antennas, because digital signals travel differently than analog ones. While an analog station that came in imperfectly might have had static but remained viewable, digital generally comes in all or nothing.
Indeed, one of Bruchalski's newly available stations looked pixelated, and Ebling said she might have to get a different antenna.
The shutdown of analog channels opens part of the airwaves for modern applications like wireless broadband and TV services for cell phones.
Research firm SmithGeiger LLC said on Thursday that about 2.2 million households were still unprepared as of last week.
Nearly half of the nation's 1,760 full-power TV stations have already cut their analog signals, though they are mostly in less populated areas.
Those ending the signals yesterday did so throughout the day, with many waiting until the evening.
The Federal Communications Commission put 4,000 operators on standby for calls from confused viewers, and set up demonstration centers in several cities.
Volunteer groups and local government agencies were helping elderly viewers set up digital converter boxes that keep older TVs functioning.
"When you're alone like me, that's my partner," Patricia Bruchalski, 82, said about her TV. Bruchalski, a pianist and former opera singer who lives in Maryland, got assistance on Thursday from Anne Arundel County's Department of Aging and Disabilities and a community organization called Partners in Care.
After her converter box was installed, Bruchalski marveled that digital broadcasts seemed clearer and gave her more channels - about 15 instead of the three she was used to.
"You're going to be up all night watching TV now," volunteer installer Rick Ebling told her.
A survey sponsored by broadcasters showed that Americans are well aware of the analog shutdown, thanks to a yearlong barrage of TV ads. But not everyone was sure exactly what it means, or what needs to be done to tune in to digital TV.
Any sets hooked up to cable or satellite feeds are unaffected. Newer, digital TVs that get broadcasts through antennas - and older sets hooked up to converter boxes - should be fine, but they will need to be set to "re-scan" the airwaves, to find stations that moved to new frequencies yesterday.
Some people might also need new antennas, because digital signals travel differently than analog ones. While an analog station that came in imperfectly might have had static but remained viewable, digital generally comes in all or nothing.
Indeed, one of Bruchalski's newly available stations looked pixelated, and Ebling said she might have to get a different antenna.
The shutdown of analog channels opens part of the airwaves for modern applications like wireless broadband and TV services for cell phones.
Research firm SmithGeiger LLC said on Thursday that about 2.2 million households were still unprepared as of last week.
Nearly half of the nation's 1,760 full-power TV stations have already cut their analog signals, though they are mostly in less populated areas.
Those ending the signals yesterday did so throughout the day, with many waiting until the evening.
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