July 1 DTV Update

It's July 1st, that means no more 36-inch or larger analog only TVs and that ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC stations in the Top-100 markets must be at full power.

According to the FCC, today marks the day that large-sized (over 36-inches) TV sets sold in the US must have a built-in DTV tuner and 50% of mid-sized TVs (25-36-inches) must have DTV tuners. The 100% compliance date for mid-sized TVs is March 1, 2006.

Of course, manufacturers are getting around the tuner mandate by not installing analog tuners, thus making TV sets into monitors.

The FCC also ordered that all Big-4 network affiliates in the Top-100 markets must be at full power today for their DTT signal. The remaining commercial broadcasters have until July 1, 2006 to be at full power.