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DTV Day Planned for Boston
By Michael Page | December 2, 2008
Mark your calendars…DTV Day is Tuesday December 9 in Boston.
In an effort to prepare all viewers within the Boston market for the Digital Switch on February 17, 2009, local stations will increase DTV awareness and run DTV tests on Tuesday.
Between the hours of 5 AM and 7:30 PM, viewers on all local stations will see an informational scroll describing DTV and steps which need to be taken in order to be ready for the switch.
Also during that span, viewers will be able to tune to WGBH to see if their TV set is capable of receiving digital stations. Sets that are DTV ready will see normal WGBH programming, while sets that are not ready will see a special show called “Get Ready for DTV”.
If you don’t tune in to WGBH, similar “virtual shutdowns” will occur on all local stations at 5:15 AM, 6:15 AM and again at 5:15 PM. These two minute tests will alert viewers if their TV is not yet ready for digital TV.
So, take a few minutes to tune in next Tuesday to make sure your TVs are digital ready. If they are not, closely follow the steps outlined on the scroll and alert messages which will appear. If you can’t wait for the 9th to test your TV, tune to WZMY anytime, as they have already permanently switched to a digital signal.
Topics: WBZ (Channel 4), WCVB (Channel 5), WFXT (Channel 25), WHDH (Channel 7), WLVI (Channel 56), WSBK (Channel 38), WZMY | 15 Comments »
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I’m getting the DT’s from all of the DTV stuff….GAWD!!!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:30 am
WGBH… Will I get still get to watch Sesame Street?
I can’t miss my cookie monster.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:49 am
If you’re ready dor DTV you’ll be able to
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I am glad that they are doing the DTV testing this Tuesday! It will help people better prepare for the Feb 17th DTV switch!
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Marky i cant agree with you more its like reliving the political ads ENOUGH reminders if you dont know by know you must be living in a cave!
December 5th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Does anyone know why WGBH does not broadcast local HD programming from their new, state of the art, studios?
What has happened to their monster video screen on their building? It has been dark since the summer.
December 5th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Don’t know about the broadcasting, but I do know that the screen has had major issues. They have a lawsuit in progress: http://wbz.com/pages/3314581.php?contentType=4&contentId=3055683
December 6th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Thanks for the update on the ‘GBH screen.
Still curious about their lack of local HD programming.
December 8th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Marky & Tom…
There’s been a lot of skeevy outfits who are trying to dupe people into buying stuff they may not be able to afford…fancy HDTVs, or cable TV subscriptions. In my town, they had an “information session” for the senior citizens last week about the transition. It was presented by a rep from Comcast.
Methinks that the town was paid by Comcast to have this, and they mostly tried to get these seniors (most of who live in subsidized housing) to buy cable. Comcast has, in their TV ads, made it look like theirs was the easiest and less expensive choice. This is NOT true!
The DTV Day is very much needed, as it will give viewers ALL of the facts, without trying to sell anyone anything. The converter box coupons are still available, and I hope that the low-income antenna-using folks will see this and get those, rather than signing on for an endless monthly cable bill that they cannot afford.
I have seen the ‘GBH program with Norm, Kevin and Maria talking about the transition. I think it was very well done, and fairly showed all of the choices.
Oh…and HDTV is NOT the same as DTV.
December 9th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
ChristineI have seen the WGBH program getting ready for digital TV with Norm, Kevin and Maria and I think it was very well done and it showed all the choices to educate viewers for the switch. My questions are: 1. for those with comcast basic cable by a cable wire only will those TV’s be ready for DTV or do they have to be changed via new TV with a digital TV or getting a converter box? 2. Will comcast people be required to change out their converter box prior to the DTV switch?
December 9th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
If you see that program on WGBH today your TV is not ready. If you see normal programming you are fine.
More DTV Q & A’s:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html
December 9th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Is Channel 7 participating? I have the TV on now (5:15) and channel 7 is still presenting the news
December 9th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I noticed the same thing. They are taking part, so I bet that if your TV was ready you just saw the regular newscast. If your TV isn’t ready you probably saw a special message..that would be my guess.
December 9th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Hey Christine thanks for the info !
December 10th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Thanks for the info Michael. I saw a note yesterday during the test on the upper portion of the screen saying this TV is DTV ready!