CTV and the DTV Transition
CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of
Scranton and the digital television (DTV)
transition, what does it mean, where are we
at?
The digital television (DTV) transition
refers to the switch from analog to digital
broadcast television. Congress has mandated
that after February 17, 2009, full-power
television stations will stop broadcasting
in analog, and will continue broadcasting in
digital only.
While the majority of consumers in the U.S.
can receive the programming of full-power
over-the-air stations, there are three other
categories of broadcast TV stations –
“low-power,” “Class A,” and “translator”
stations. Although these types of stations
also must eventually switch to digital
broadcasting, there is currently no
deadline for them to turn off their analog
signals.
CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of
Scranton operates 2 Class A low power
television stations, W07BV in Wilkes-Barre
and W19CI in Berwick. These stations will
not be digital broadcast stations by
February 17, 2009.
If you subscribe to a Cable TV system that
carries CTV, such as Comcast, Metrocast,
Service Electric Cable, Service Electric
Cablevision, or Adams Cable, you will not
need to make any changes. (CTV is not
available on any satellite TV services, such
as the DISH network or Direct TV).
While the February 17, 2009 deadline for
ending analog broadcasts does not apply to
low-power, Class A, and TV translator
stations, the FCC will require these
stations to convert to digital broadcasting
sometime thereafter. The FCC is currently
considering the remaining issues involved
with the low-power digital transition and
will make decisions regarding these stations
in the future.
If you purchase a digital-to-analog
converter box to watch digital broadcasts of
full power TV stations on an analog TV and
also wish to continue watching analog LPTV,
Class A, or TV translator stations, you
should purchase a converter box with
“analog pass-through” capability,
which allows analog broadcast signals to
pass through the converter box to be tuned
by your analog TV.
For more information about the DTV
transition, on the internet go to
www.dtv.gov
or contact the FCC by e-mailing
dtvinfo@fcc.gov;
or by
calling 1-888-CALL-FCC.
