Feb 16, 2009 10:39 pm US/Central
Some Stations Already Switching To Digital
(WCCO)
-
-
Eric Bass didn't have any problems setting up the digital converter box, but said he's heard of other who did. He used a $40 coupon to buy the $60 box.
CBS
On Tuesday night, a Twin Cities TV station is making the switch to digital. The Twin Cities CW will turn off its analog signal at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 17. That means people who haven't properly prepared for the switch won't be able to watch the usual CW line-up.
The CW will be the first station in the Twin Cities market to make the switch. WCCO, KARE, KMSP and KSTP will wait until June. Those stations extended their time with the analog signal after President Barack Obama pushed back the deadline earlier this month.
"It's primarily because we feel we've done our due diligence and that the extension to June is actually going to potential create more confusion than the confusion already apparent," said CW General Manager Joe Tracy.
Tracy said his engineers will be available to answer any phone calls from people who are confused about the switch. He expects several calls on Wednesday morning when people wake up without their CW shows.
WEAU, the NBC affiliate in Eau Claire, Wis., made the switch at 1 p.m. Monday afternoon. By 3 p.m., the station's general manager reported 300 phone calls. Many were from elderly people who didn't know how to scan for the new digital channel.
Employees at WEAU were on-hand to talk people through the simple process with their remote control.
Most stations will make the digital switch on June 12, but digital converter owner Eric Bass recommends people don't wait that long.
When asked about the quality of the picture on the screen with the converter, he said, "It's much, much more clearer. I wish I would have gotten it when it came out."
Bass didn't have any problems setting up the box, but said he's heard of other who did. He used a $40 coupon to buy the $60 box.
Right now, the government's fund to pay for the coupons has reached its limit. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration hopes to be able to clear a coupon wait-list of four million people within the next two weeks.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
