WHYY prepares its viewers for digital transition

    What was supposed to happen in February is finally happening Friday, June 12. All television broadcast signals in America will switch to digital. Analog television that have not been prepared for the switch will become effectively useless at noon Friday. According to Nielson ratings, 97 percent of Philadelphia is ready for digital TV.

    What was supposed to happen in February is finally happening Friday, June 12. All television broadcast signals in America will switch to digital. Analog television that have not been prepared for the switch will become effectively useless at noon Friday. According to Nielson ratings, 97 percent of Philadelphia is ready for digital TV.

    Listen:
    [audio: 090611pcdtv.mp3]

    Bill Perkins of Germantown came to a walk-in session at WHYY to learn how to set up his digital conversion box.

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    Perkins: I have one aerial. He said you need two aerials. So I’m wondering what kind of reception is gonna come with one antenna.

    It’s one of the unknowable issues of the digital conversion: TVs that picked up weak analog signals may not get weak digital channels.

    Dave Dumbrowski of the FCC says some things will not be known until the switch is thrown.

    Dumbrowski: People may not be asking the right questions. Let’s wait to see what happens. If you get stations – great, things will get better for you. If not then let’s tackle the situation.

    Digital conversion assistance will continue to be available to the public for about a week after the digital switch.

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