Some Viewers Lose In Digital TV Switch

Even Those Who Bought Converter Boxes Could Lose Certain Channels

(AP)  Nearly a fifth of the nation's full-power television stations will no longer reach at least 2 percent of viewers now covered by their existing analog signals after they switch to digital broadcasts in February, federal regulators say.

The Federal Communications Commission report comes amid mounting concerns that some consumers who rely on analog-only television sets could lose some or all over-the-air broadcast channels following the Feb. 17 digital transition even if they have purchased and hooked up digital converter boxes.

That's because many television stations will shift their broadcast footprints with the mandatory transition by changing transmitter locations, antenna patterns or power levels. The FCC is not requiring television stations to replicate their analog coverage.

Some viewers could also lose signals because of what's known as the digital "cliff effect." Unlike analog signals, digital broadcasts either come in clear or not at all, meaning that those on the fringes of analog coverage areas will lose that reception entirely after the transition. Currently, they can still get fuzzy analog signals.

Some viewers may therefore need more powerful antennas - in addition to converter boxes - to continue receiving certain channels.

In a report released late Tuesday, the FCC said 319 of the nation's 1,749 full-power television stations, or 18 percent, will have a digital signal that reaches at least 2 percent fewer viewers than their current analog broadcasts.

Those numbers do not reflect viewers who will continue to receive channels after the transition because they subscribe to cable or satellite service - roughly 85 percent of viewers overall - or rely on so-called "translators" or repeaters to get reception.

What's more, many stations will be gaining viewers elsewhere even as they lose some of their existing viewers. About half of those 319 stations will reach more people overall after the transition.

Other stations will also reach fewer existing viewers, but below the 2 percent threshold. All told, 196 stations, or 11 percent of the 1,749 full-power TV stations, will reach fewer viewers overall, while the rest will see gains.

Broadcasters can take a number of steps to restore service for those who may lose signals. Options include using translators or "fill-in" stations that operate on a different channel, using another station's digital spectrum to retransmit a signal, maximizing the station's power, changing the station's channel or changing its antenna pattern.

The National Association of Broadcasters had no comment on the FCC report.

The transition from analog to digital broadcasting is expected to free up valuable spectrum that can be used to deliver high-speed Internet access and other commercial wireless services and to connect police officers, fire fighters and other emergency workers.

Earlier this month, Congress passed a law requiring analog broadcasts of public safety announcements and information about the digital transition for 30 days following the transition. The information to be broadcast will include details on how consumers can convert their television sets to receive digital signals.

[saintseminole]

Regardless of whether you like Bush or Clinton, this story has very little to do with either of them, but to the march of "progress" (the need of electronics companies to sell new products).

I''m one of those two percent who won''t get digital TV when the switch happens. Right now, our analog antenna works just fine. When we switch to the digital signal, we get only choppy blocks of digital color (no shows). So, in February, I won''t have a choice. TV companies and the government have decided that I''m not important enough. Oh well.

[barbaram99]

I have a TV that that picks up both formats . The TV is not the cwntre of attn that most persons give it. For years there were 3 TV networks CBS,NBC and ABC. That was it.In 1940 NTSC came in to being what we call analog TV. In 53 NTSC added colour TV. It was all analog. We grew up watching analog TV. It is snowy. Now we move to digital TV it is going to be ATSC and not NTSC in the USA. My friend told not much in HD. They make atandard digital TV sets my friend has one. Ye have to look for ATSC /digital TV on the box. ''member the old dial phone we moved to the the touch tone with no problem. Have not used a dial phone since the 70s. We will move into digital TV and after awhile we won''t miss analog TV.

[dahinda1]

JUST STOP WATCHING TV. We''ve been doing it for over a year now and my whole family gets so much more done. If we want to watch any particular show we do it online. (and yes radio is going to be next)

[barbaram99]

Did ye hook it up right..Ye got to auto program it. I installed an ext, tv card with both formats on my computer and with rabbit ears pick up the digital stations. If I as a legally blind can get the bloody thing to work surely the seeing can. Am in Seattle. Some people can''t program a VCR mum is one. Small towns don''t know. A rip nope. Us that did not gro up with computers use them.

[zgriner-2009]

This is a big government conspiracy to make us buy new televisions and to make TV stations buy new equipment. No matter what I do, I can''t get any digital signal on my TV to come in consistently from hour to hour. None of it makes any sense. Sure, the picture looks great when I can get it. Too bad not all stations record their signal in HD, or transmit in widescreen.

I am probably going to have to spend a few hundred dollars to get an outdoor antenna with a signal booster.

[barbaram99]

I 54,and I welcome digital TV. It is cleaner than analog. This is one area where bush is not the blame. I don''t like bush. Analog is snowy and has been for years. I like the new format. I have a TV have will handle the change. I use rabbit ears. Yep am a Maine hick/hillbilly in Seattle.

[tucson23]

Oh, and one more thing...I hate Bush as much as the next guy, but this change to digital TV was mandated in the Communications Act of 1996. Republicans controlled Congress, but Bush was still snorting cocaine in Texas at that time. And Clinton signed the bill.

[tucson23]

Look, technology evolves, and some people cannot or will not keep up. I''m sure there were hicks in 1965 who complained that color tv was a vast conspiracy to make them spend more money. The digital transition has not been handled badly--most stations will reach more people, there has been a great deal of warning, the government will pay almost the entire cost of a converter box, and digital tv is far superior to analog. Exactly what else do you expect them to do, buy you a new 50" LCD? What we''re talking about here is that some people who are watching snowy channels now will not get them at all after the transition. If your channels are snowy, you need a better antenna anyway, so what''s the big deal? The best antenna for sale at Best Buy costs $9.00. Besides, you''ll all be singing a different tune when you discover that there will be free wireless internet for just about every American as a result of this change.

[rwsmith29456]

Yeah right, walt194. The switch to digital was caused by none other than GEORGE BUSH.

[jaykay3141]

Uh, you may have better luck Googling "coat HANGER". I haven''t seen too many coats that need airplane HANGARs, LOL!

[tmittelstaed]

The unfortunate problem is that right now there is an orgy of antenna manufacturers who are basically scamming the general public by selling worthless non-working HDTV antennas. The amplified indoor antennas are all junk.
What most antenna manufacturers aren''t telling you is that HDTV antenna designs are simply UHF antenna designs. For example one of the best outdoor designs is the Channel Master MetroTenna - it sells online for about $30 - but you won''t see it at most places that sell HDTV because it is such a simple antenna that most HDTV consumers don''t think it works.
You can also copy this design for use indoor in about an hour with simple tools and some coat hangars - google up ""Coat hangar HDTV antenna" - the only difference between the Channel Master one and the homemade one is the commercial one is more durable. And the passive indoor design outperforms the amplified indoor HDTV antennas.

[jsd330]

It''s a scam by the cable companies,satellite tv and the tv manufacturers. They want to take your last few dollars. Radio is next, you will be paying to listen to radio stations that you get free now.

[barbaram99]

Ye saying we will have rescan again, I have both formats. The digital is cleaner than analog. I have both tuners in my tower and TV. I can only watch digital TV on the computer. My friend bought a TV last year and I made sure it have both formats. The analog is snowy llike it be in the 60s.

[godofredo29]

"Some Viewers Lose In Digital TV Switch
Even Those Who Bought Converter Boxes Could Lose Certain Channels"

No! You think? I think this is going to turn out to be a huge hoax where once again the American people were scammed by their own fellow citizens.

[downsteamjim]

walt1944: Did Santa bring you some new khakis, jackboots, and a fathead of Hitler for your wall? Merry Christmas and sorry for misspelling your name.

[david1737]

I just don''t like TV that much. My wife and I own a nice surround sound entertainment system and we either buy or rent movies or Cable series (like HBO''s Dead Wood.) I haven''t even noticed the lack of Network TV.

[downsteamjim]

wlat1944: Did Santa bring you some new kakhi uniforms, jack boots, and a fathead of Hitler to put on your wall? Merry Christmas!

[downsteamjim]

Nearly 1/5th of stations will no longer reach at least 2% of their vierws but this doesn''t count the 85% who have subsciptions and are not effected. Sounds like the math problem from hell.

[oldanalyst]

We hooked up our box about a month ago. We are in a rural area between 2 markets and have a number of adjacent channels. With analog signals, the weaker adjacent channel always had considerable interference. Now, we get all the channels noise free including a number that broadcast multiple channels. We have increased our channel count from 6 to 24 watchable channels. In fact, the local channels picked up by our satellite provider come in clearer off the air. For us, the change has been quite good.

[actornaught]

DTV, the new Y2K...