The FCC releases the Go-NoGo analog shutoff list
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Feb 17th 2009 6:35PM
posted Feb 17th 2009 6:35PM
When the FCC denied about 25 percent of the broadcasters who wanted to go early from going on the original date, the first thing that we wanted to know was which ones? The good news is that FCC has finally posted a comprehensive list of every high powered station in the country and who went all digital today. Out of the 106 the FCC originally had objections to shutting down analog, 53 worked it out, 10 are still trying, and 43 actually agreed to delay. In total, about 36 percent of the 1796 full power stations made the switch (outlined in red in the linked xls spreadsheet) today, with 115 days and counting until the rest do.[Via HomeTheaterMag]
Read -- 43 stations who agreed not to shut off analog. (xls)
Read -- 641 stations that completed the transition today (xls)
Now here's a question. Is it actually within the FCC's power to force companies to continue to broadcast in SD? I don't doubt they have the power to dictate what actually is broadcast on the public airwaves, but if a company chooses not to broadcast how does the FCC have the right to dictate that?
When you say in SD do you mean standard definition? SD can be broadcast in digital too.
Regarding the PDF...first, what does the Nite Lite column signify? I would assume the stations in red are those that are allowed to end early or on time.
Night Lights are those stations that ceased their normal broadcast, but run info on an endless loop about the analog shut off and inform people they need to get a digital converter box. This of course is only temporary, probably for a couple of weeks or days.
The Nite Lite stations will keep the analog signal on, but it will only broadcast DTV transition information and not actually programming. Basically, analog viewers on those stations will get information about why they don't see any programming.
That means that for ~30 days after their official shutoff, they'll continue broadcasting a static image or looping video PSA on their analog transmitter saying, in effect, "If you see this, you're not ready for the digital switchover, go get yourself a converter box *right now*".
chad: Nightlight service means a station keeps its analog signal on for a period of time providing DTV conversion info . The February night light also includes news and public affairs programming.
cheviot : The FCC has the authority to set criteria for analog shutoffs and digital turnons to ensure that they serve the public interest, like this: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-7A1.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXvA2IYAyt8
i wonder if that's what "Nightlight Stations" are broadcasting now...?
Ok, so that's the Feb 17th stations.
What about stations between 2/17 and the new June cut of date? Any of those announced yet?
This is so stupid, the should of NEVER pushed the date
Hooray. The federal government is once again flexing its steroid enhanced power. It disgusts me that they have the ability to run an entertainment *business* like this.
Link @ 2 is dead (http://www.fcc.gov/021609AttachmentA.xls)
All the channels that wanted to switch and were denied should be sending a bill to the government. They should be charging them for added engineering costs for having to reschedule the actual switchover, electricity bills for powering the analog towers, payroll for any additional work needed to keep both running, advertising for having to run all the same stupid changeover ads AGAIN and finally, pain and suffering for the government being ridiculous.