What? You’ve got to be kidding? What’s the deal with all of the “analog is ending” talk, then?

OK, here goes.

All FULL-POWER analog television broadcasts WILL end, at the stroke of midnight February 18, 2009.

However, Class A, Low Power, and Translator television stations, as of this writing, have no date set for the end of analog broadcasting. They will eventually convert to digital only broadcasts. The FCC has yet to announce when they might reach a decision.

There are 49 of these stations across Kansas. 

The KAKEland Television Network includes four Low Power and Translator TV stations:

K30GD – Great Bend – Channel 30 

K25CV – Hays – Channel 25 

K38GH – Russell – Channel 38 

K51GC – Salina – Channel 51 

At this time, KAKE Television has not set a date for their conversion to digital broadcasting. When we do, I’ll update this posting. On the appointed date, these stations will be “flash-cut”. We will simply turn off the analog broadcast, and immediately replace it with a digital broadcast, on the same channel. 

If you watch these television stations, via antenna, your “old-school” analog TV will continue to receive broadcasts after the analog cut-off. But, if you also view full-power stations, via antenna, those will only be broadcasting in digital, starting February 18, 2009. For uninterrupted viewing, you have two options available. First, is to purchase a new TV with a built-in ATSC/NTSC digital tuner. These will receive both analog and digital signals. Second, if you plan to keep your current analog TV, get a “converter box”. These are inexpensive (<$60…subtract an additional $40 with a “converter coupon”) boxes that will down-convert digital TV, back into analog. Just plug your antenna into the converter, and then plug the output into your TV’s antenna input. You will, most likely, want a converter that features “analog pass-through” allowing the older analog signals to reach your TV’s tuner, also.