Digital TV Transition Begins Today for 421 Broadcasters

Ready or not, 421 television stations are still planning to terminate analog broadcasts today, trimmed down from the 491 broadcasters originally planned to switch. The Federal Communications Commission, broadcasters and others are working overtime to prepare consumers for the digital transition -- and ensure that consumers who aren't ready for the switch will continue to have access to vital television news and emergency information.

Of the nations nearly 1,800 full-power televisions stations, 220 will have terminated their analog signals before Tuesday and another 421 will terminate their analog signals on Tuesday before 11:59 pm, for a total of 641 stations, or about 36% of all full-power stations nationwide. The FCC has dispatched staffers to 72 markets across the nation where the impact is expected to be the greatest, while broadcasters who are shutting down analog signals intensify efforts to notify and educate the public.

This is not just about whether people can watch their favorite reality show, said Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps. Its about whether consumers have access to vital emergency alerts, weather, news and public affairs.

Finding that the public was not ready for the transition to digital television, Congress earlier this month delayed the deadline for termination of analog signals from February 17 to June 12. But Congress also directed the FCC to give broadcasters the flexibility to make the transition early, including on the original February 17 date.

The FCC is seeking to ensure that even where all or most stations in a market are terminating analog service, consumers who are unprepared for the switch will continue to have access to critical local news and emergency information. To accomplish this, the FCC examined each market in which stations planned to end analog service to ensure that at least one affiliate of the four major networks ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC would continue broadcasting in analog after February 17. Many had such a station, but in those instances in which there would be no top-four affiliate remaining in a market, the FCC attempted to ensure that analog local news and emergency information would remain available generally through what is being called enhanced analog nightlight service. Under enhanced analog nightlight, the top-four affiliates must keep at least one analog signal on the air to provide programming that includes, at a minimum, local news and emergency information.

The FCC has also boosted staffing in consumer call centers, providing 2,506 information specialists to answer consumer questions about the transition and an additional 1,759 agents through industry partners. All calls will be routed through a single number, 1-888-CALLFCC, and agents will have the ability to refer callers to local contacts for information regarding particular reception issues.

To see the full list of broadcasters switching off analog today, you can download FCC's spreadsheet.