The switch from analog to digital broadcast television is referred to as the Digital TV (DTV) transition.
KFYR-TV completed the DTV transition on Monday, February 16th, 2009, and is only available in digital.
Why the switch to DTV?
An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced wireless services (such as wireless broadband).
Consumers also benefit because digital broadcasting allows stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, and digital is much more efficient than analog. For example, rather than being limited to providing one analog program, a broadcaster is able to offer a super sharp “high definition” (HD) digital program or multiple “standard definition” (SD) digital programs simultaneously through a process called “multicasting.” Multicasting allows broadcast stations to offer several channels of digital programming at the same time, using the same amount of spectrum required for one analog program. So, for example, while a station broadcasting in analog on channel 5 is only able to offer viewers one program, a station broadcasting in digital on channel 5 can offer viewers one digital program on channel 5-1, a second digital program on channel 5-2, a third digital program on channel 5-3, and so on. This means more programming choices for viewers. Further, DTV can provide interactive video and data services that are not possible with analog technology.
What do I need to do to be ready for the end of analog TV broadcasting ?
All broadcast television stations will be digital by June 12 th, 2009 as mandated by Federal Law.
- Install a converter box
- Purchase a TV with a digital tuner
- Subscribe to cable TV .
If you have one or more televisions that receive free over-the-air television programming (with a roof-top antenna or “rabbit ears” on the TV), the type of TV you own is very important. A digital television (a TV with an internal digital tuner) will allow you to watch KFYR-TV over-the-air programming. However, if you have an analog television, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box to continue to watch digital broadcast television on that set. This converter box will also enable you to see any additional multicast programming that your local stations are offering.
Cable and satellite TV subscribers with analog TVs hooked up to their cable or satellite service should not be affected.
To help consumers with the DTV transition, the Government established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a part of the Department of Commerce, administers this program. Every U.S. household is eligible to receive up to two coupons, worth $40 each, toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes. NOTE: Coupons will take 4-6 weeks to deliver. The coupons may only be used for eligible converter boxes sold at participating consumer electronics retailers, and the coupons must be used at the time of purchase. Manufacturers estimate that digital-to-analog converter boxes will sell from $50 to $70 each. This is a one-time cost. For more information on the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program, visit the NTIA’s website at www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon, or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY). NOTE: Coupons will require 4-6 weeks to delivery.
For more information go to:
DTV Call Center:
1-877-DTV-5353Kevin Gribble's HD101:
© 2009 KFYR-TV
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Sister Stations: KMOT in Minot, KQCD in Dickinson, KUMV in Williston