Dec 15, 2008 9:07 am US/Central
WCCO TV Tests New Digital Signal In Northern Minn.
Bemidji/Walker/Alex Viewers to Get Preview
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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On Feb. 17, 2009, television stations nationwide must switch from the old method of transmitting TV signals known as analog to digital television (DTV).
CBS
WCCO-TV is performing a "test run" of its digital transmission Wednesday, December 17, 2008 between the hours of 7 A.M. and 10 P.M. on its KCCO, Channel 7 and KCCW, Channel 12 northern transmitter.
The traditional analog transmission will not be available during this 15-hour testing period. This will affect all viewers that watch KCCO/KCCW over the air on analog TVs. Cable and satellite subscribers should not be affected.
In order to watch the digital channel over the air, viewers will need either a DTV converter box or a digital television set. In all cases a rescan of the available digital channels will be necessary on the converter box or digital television receiver. Additionally, existing rabbit ears may not be sufficient and the viewer may need to consider an outdoor antenna that is capable of receiving VHF Hi (channels 7 through 13).
"We care about our antenna viewers in the Channel 7 and 12 coverage areas and want them to have a chance to test their converter boxes or new digital televisions before the permanent digital switch," said WCCO-TV Chief Engineer, Gary Kroger.
This is a single day test in preparation for the February 17, 2009 full transition cut-over date and not an early digital conversion. For any viewers not able to confirm successful digital reception of KCCO and KCCW, a second test is scheduled to take place on January 17, 2009.
WCCO-TV will provide a phone bank the day of the test run staffed with experts to answer viewer concerns. WCCO-TV will continue to run daily on-screen crawls to their entire viewing audiences in preparation of the final transition date of February 17, 2009.
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