Rapid City, SD NBC affiliate makes an early, surprisingly smooth, jump to DTV

Why wait? Rapid City, SD NBC affiliate KNBN went full digital on Monday at 5 a.m., apparently in an effort to get ready for its Super bowl broadcast February 1, even though the federally mandated analog shutoff isn't until February 17. The Rapid City Journal quoted vice president and general manager Jim Simpson saying most calls since the switch were solved by simply rescanning for the new signal -- could it all be so simple?

[Hendrek Posted Jan 13th 2009 8:44PM]

This made me think, it would be so funny if Obama did get the FCC to postpone the required switchover, but most of the affiliates did it anyway because they've already put so much money and effort into getting ready for it.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 14th 2009 12:51AM]

I'm surprised the FCC doesn't require that broadcasters continue supporting analog viewers until the switchover date. The part about doing it to be ready for the Super Bowl doesn't make any sense (unless they don't have enough power to drive both analog and digital transmitters).

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 14th 2009 2:29AM]

It kinda makes sense in the fact that they might want to roll out their digital equipment as to have time to work out any bugs they might have as well as allow their viewers time to adjust to the switch to digital. Also some broadcasters switching to all digital before the date will make some of those people who have no idea what this change means to them realize that they can't watch DTV with their analog tuners.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 14th 2009 7:03AM]

Yes, it really was that simply. On Monday I simply rescanned my TV/Converter Boxes and there they were, in digital. Even the local feed over Dish Network looks much better since Monday.

They also have the local CW station but that one they are still broadcasting the analog.

Another delay in the switch should NOT be done. How many times has this already been delayed? Too many!

[TVGenius Posted Jan 14th 2009 10:01AM]

Yeah, and don't forget to remind your friends that if they have any issues with stations, to try re-scanning. Unfortunately that's not something that's been mentioned often, and it's going to need to be done by pretty much everyone, since a lot of stations are moving their digital signal to where their analog is/was.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 14th 2009 11:53AM]

WVUE FOX in New Orleans shut off their analog in December without problems.