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If You Miss The TV Signal, Think Inside The Box

The Associated Press

Congress recently extended the deadline for the digital switchover to June, but some stations aren't waiting.

By RICHARD MULLINS

rmullins@tampatrib.com

Published: February 18, 2009

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If your TV features a bunch of static today, consider it a welcome to the digital age.

Four Tampa area stations were set to unplug traditional analog broadcasts at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and go to an all-digital format.

WUSF, Channel 16 (PBS), plans to unplug its analog broadcast April 3. The rest of the Tampa area's TV stations plan to unplug their analog broadcasts June 12, including affiliates for ABC, NBC and CBS.

Anyone with an older television not linked to cable or satellite will need a digital converter box to watch free over-the-air broadcasts.

Consumers have cited a range of problems with the digital TV transition, including DTV boxes that don't work properly and a shortage of government-funded coupons to buy the boxes.

If there is good news for consumers, it's this: Stations are broadcasting several more channels on digital than they do with analog.

One other bit of good news: The government should be releasing a new wave of digital converter box coupons this week, chipping away at a list of people who still need one.

These area stations were set to end analog broadcasts Tuesday:

WEDU, Channel 3 (PBS)

WCLF, Channel 22 (Christian Television Corp.)

WTTA, Channel 38 (myNetworkTV)

WVEA, Channel 62 (Univision)

Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at (813) 259-7919.

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