News: This is only another test

More than 40 Ohio television stations representing eight media markets in the state will take part in a digital television (DTV) test on Thursday, January 15. Most stations will start the five-minute tests at 7:30 p.m., although local start times may vary. The test will air on stations' analog signals only and will alert TV audiences if their television sets are not ready for the DTV transition. Instead of regular programming, viewers whose TVs are not digital ready will see a graphic informing them that they need to take action to prepare for the digital conversion.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has requested that television stations participate in these DTV tests as a means of alerting consumers who are not prepared for the DTV transition to take action. The actual DTV conversion is scheduled to occur on February 17, 2009, when the Federal government will require that all full-power television stations turn off their over-the-air analog signals and begin broadcasting only in digital. Over the past week, there have been discussions in Washington about delaying this February 17 date. However, any change to the date would require action by Congress.

"Television stations in Ohio and across the country have been preparing for this digital television transition for the last ten years, and have made tremendous efforts over the last year to educate their viewers about the transition," said Christine H. Merritt, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Broadcasters, which is coordinating the test in Ohio. "While we know there is a high level of awareness about the transition, we believe this test provides an important opportunity for viewers to determine if any of their television sets are not yet prepared for the transition."

As part of the five-minute test, telephone call centers will be operating in each market to answer any questions from viewers. To continue receiving television programming after the transition, Ohioans who receive over-the-air analog broadcasts will need to either buy a converter box that plugs into their analog TV, buy a TV with a digital tuner, or connect their analog TV to cable, satellite or another subscription service. The Federal government is offering two $40 coupons to every American household to cover most of the cost of purchasing a converter box.

Stations taking part in the DTV Test:

WCET-TV, Cincinnati
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati
WKRC-TV, Cincinnati
WLWT-TV, Cincinnati
WSTR-TV, Cincinnati
WXIX-TV, Cincinnati
WDLI-TV, Akron (Cleveland)
WBNX-TV, Cleveland
WEWS-TV, Cleveland
WJW-TV, Cleveland
WKYC-TV, Cleveland
WOIO-TV, Cleveland
WVPX-TV, Cleveland
WUAB-TV, Cleveland
WVIZ-TV, Cleveland
WBNS-TV, Columbus
WCMH-TV, Columbus
WOSU-TV, Columbus
WSFJ-TV, Columbus
WSYX-TV, Columbus
WTTE-TV, Columbus
WWHO-TV, Columbus
WOUB-TV, Athens (Columbus)
WVPX, Akron (Columbus)
WDTN-TV, Dayton
WHIO-TV, Dayton
WKEF-TV, Dayton
WRGT-TV, Dayton
WPTD-TV, Dayton
WPTO-TV, Dayton
WBDT-TV, Dayton
WGTE-TV, Toledo
WLMB-TV, Toledo
WNWO-TV, Toledo
WTOL-TV, Toledo
WTVG-TV, Toledo
WUPW-TV, Toledo
WFMJ-TV, Youngstown
WKBN-TV, Youngstown
WYTV-TV, Youngstown
WQCW-TV, Portsmouth (Charleston, WV)
WTOV-TV, Steubenville (Wheeling, WV)

Courtesy: The Ohio Association of Broadcasters (OAB)