Everyone has been forewarned, for more than a year. Today is the day that television stations across America will drop their analog signals for good and rely only on digital broadcasting.
Many stations here in the Tampa Bay area did so earlier today. As of 8:00 PM, only two stations — independent WMOR-TV 32 and Spanish language Univision affiliate WFTT-TV 50 still had their analog signals on, but by the end of tonight those will be gone as well.
It is surprising — even after more than a year of preparing viewers for the switch — just how many people have waited until the last minute to purchase the sets or converter boxes necessary to pick up the digital signals. Even if people can’t afford the expensive digital sets, converter boxes to make the signals receivable to your traditional analog set aren’t THAT expensive…and the government gives you a $40 coupon toward the purchase of one!
For some of us not forking over the monthly cost for cable, it doesn’t help completely. CBS affiliate WTSP-TV 10 is still not visible from my second floor apartment near I-4 in north Lakeland, and NBC station WFLA-TV 8 can be iffy. Well, you get what you pay for…
Bio: Robert is a former radio personality, which ended with five years at Winter Haven station WHNR where he eventually rose to become Assistant Operations Manager. For the past decade he has continued to make a living running his mouth, working in the call center industry. Currently he is working as a Customer Services Professional at a local facility representing one of North America's major heating & air conditioning sales and repair companies.
