Dec 15

Written by: mastereditor
12/15/2008 6:08 AM 

Stations in the nation’s biggest market are planning their biggest “soft” analog shutoff simulation yet Wednesday (Dec. 17). It’s a full fine minutes at the highly watched 7:30 p.m. slot.

As with numerous previous tests, DTV (and cable and satellite viewers) will experience no interruptions while analog viewers will see direction to find more information.

About 350,000 households in the market rely exclusively on over-the-air TV, while another 350,000 have at least one set not connected to a pay service, according to the Metropolitan Television Alliance.

Broadcasters have been learning from the data from simulated shutdowns across the country. But most tests have been two minutes or less.

Participating stations are:

WABC – TV 7
WCBS – TV 2
WFUT – TV 68
WLIW – TV 21
WNBC – TV 4
WNET – TV 13
WNJU – TV 47
WNYE – TV 25
WNYW – TV 5
WPIX – TV 11
WPXN – TV 31
WWOR – TV 9
WXTV – TV 41