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KVBC Las Vegas conducted a test on what will happen at midnight on February 17, 2009 when TV stations across the U.S. stop broadcasting in analog.
During each of the station's seven daily newscasts on May 2, the station stopped airing its normal programming and instead ran a short clip of simulated static. On the fuzzy screen there was a graphic instructing confused viewers to call 888-DTV-2009 or visit DTVanswers.com, the official sources for information on the transition.
The simulated blackouts, which including footage of a cable being pulled, started with Friday's 5 a.m. newscast. The station's anchors explained to viewers that those who could still see them after the plug was pulled would be okay in February 2009, but those who couldn't, need to act now to make their sets DTV-ready.
KVBC general manager Lisa Howfield explains, " 'for 90% of the population, that isn't going to affect them. For 10% it will. So I said the best way to get the attention of people who are watching analog is, well, pull it out for a second. It grabs your attention.' "
The shutdown test was promoted a week prior, urging viewers to tune their TV sets to KVBC. The assignment desk was told to direct any complaints to the toll-free number or website.
No one seemed confused on the morning of Friday, May 2. At presstime, only one call was received by the newsroom staffer manning the phones. Howfield was pleased that the test went so smoothly. KVBC's 6 a.m. newscast averages 29,500 households a day.
Two FCC commissioners praised the test. Michael Copps says, " 'anything that gets people's attention and lets them know the transition is coming is a good thing.' "
To read more on the Digital Conversion in the U.S., click here.
Source: Broadcasting & Cable, 05/03/2008
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