Blue screen or snowy screen.
If you find yourself looking at either Thursday morning, chances are you’re not ready for digital television.
Thursday is the first of two important days, when three of Denver’s television stations shut off years-old analog signals and switch to ultra- modern digital transmissions.
Channels 7, 9 and 20 will no longer broadcast in analog. Other stations will follow on June 12, the nationwide deadline for stations to go digital.
The Federal Communications Commission had approved earlier starts for some stations, including the three in Denver.
The switch affects only viewers who rely on free over-the-air broadcasts via an antenna. Cable and satellite subscribers are unaffected, though some cable viewers are likely to see an improvement in the quality of the picture for local stations.
Newer digital-ready televisions are equipped for the switch, but older analog TV sets must have a converter box in order to view digital programming. Without it, viewers Thursday will see only snow at Channels 7, 9 and 20 but can still see programming on other stations not switching until June.
Those with a converter box or digital TV might still see a blue screen Thursday, indicating they’ve not re scanned for the new channels. That’s because Channels 7 and 9 have been transmitting digitally at Channels 17 and 16, respectively, while continuing to show analog signals on the lower channel numbers.
With Thursday’s switch, the digital channels will return to their normal locations.
Channel 20 will broadcast digitally on Channel 19.
The much-anticipated day has some television executives sweating but relatively confident that problems will be minimal.
“I don’t think too many are in the dark,” said Mark Cornetta, president and general manager of KUSA-Channel 9. “Some people are still very confused by this, even with all the information out there.”
One upside to the switch is that digital programming brings subchannels. That means digital Channel 9 — displayed as Channel 9.1 — will also have a Channel 9.2 for weather and 9.3 for NBC Universal Sports.
Each station can have up to six subchannels.
There is one downside to the switch, Cornetta said: “We can’t communicate with those watching in analog since we will only have the digital signal. We can’t give them a telephone number to call after the fact.”
David Migoya: 303-954-1506 or dmigoya@denverpost.com
What you need to know
The switch Thursday to all-digital television broadcasts for three Denver stations might leave a few consumers confounded. A few common questions:
Q: What’s happening Thursday?
A: Denver Channels 7, 9 and 20 will turn off analog signals and transmit only in digital. Other stations will follow on June 12.
Q: What do I have to do to get ready?
A: If you rely on over-the-air free TV using an antenna and don’t already have a digital-ready set, then you need a converter box. Be sure to scan for new channels even if you have a digital set.
Q: I have cable. Do I need to do anything?
A: No. Cable service will not change, though some viewers might see improved picture quality for local stations.
Q: How do I hook up my converter box?
A: The labels vary, but the basic setup is the same. Connect the antenna to the “RF in” coaxial connection at the rear of the converter box. Be sure to use a new cable. Then connect one end of a second cable to the “RF out” coaxial connection and the other end of that cable to the “in” connection at the back of the television; or run RCA cables from the audio-visual connections from the box to the same type connections on your television. Be sure red connects to red, yellow to yellow and white to white. Set your TV to Channel 3, as tuning will be done via the converter box.
Q: Does free digital TV have more than one channel per station?
A: Yes. Each station has up to six “subchannels” for a greater variety of broadcasts. Channel 9, for instance, will have a main channel (9.1), a weather channel (9.2) and a sports channel (9.3), which is NBC Universal Sports. Each station decides what the subchannels will show.
Q: I have cable. Will I see the subchannels?
A: Yes. Comcast is already showing some of them on its hi-tier digital programming (9.2 and 9.3 are at 249 and 250, respectively). Satellite viewers, however, can get only the basic channels for now, not the subchannels.
Questions? Problems?
Whom to call if you don’t get a signal Thursday morning on Channels 7, 9 and 20:
KMGH (7)
303-832-7777
KUSA (9)
303-698-0999
KTVD (20)
303-698-0999
FCC
888-225-5322
Free help
AmeriCorps: Television viewers who need assistance attaching digital components may call for help. People must have their own equipment. Phone: 303-620-9129
Walk-in center: Today at the Aurora Library, 14949 E. Alameda Parkway, 4-8 p.m.
