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Viewership to TV stations in the two weeks following the June 12 end of
full-power analog dipped, according to Nielsen, but that was "largely temporary"
and viewing levels have been returning in the ensuing weeks, said the ratings
company.
Nielsen attributes the drop in part to households that had to re-scan for DTV
channels or get a new antenna after the switch, noting that the stations most
affected by the switch were those that moved from a UHF DTV channel to a VHF DTV
channel.
Some stations that moved from UHF to VHF digital channels had trouble reaching
apartments, condos and buildings in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston, for
example, though the FCC has worked with the stations to provide fixes via power
boosts or educating viewers about the need to rescan or get a new antenna.
Sara Erichson, president of Media Client Services North America for Nielsen,
said that, as of June 28, 60% of the homes Nielsen identified as still
completely unready for DTV -- about 1.7 million --could still see some analog TV
via a low-power station, a Canadian or Mexican station for those near a border,
and via translators in some areas.
Source: Broadcasting & Cable, 07/23/2009
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