Recently passed legislation will not affect several television stations in the region from changing to digital television broadcasting on Feb. 17, according to station officials.

“Every commercial television station in West Virginia will convert to digital-only broadcasting on Tuesday, Feb. 17, except for the ABC affiliate in the Oak Hill and Beckley market, WOAY-TV 4,” said Michelle Crist, executive director of the West Virginia Broadcasters Association.

Two stations serving the Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill television market, Fox and CBS affiliate WVNS TV 59 and NBC affiliate WVVA TV 6, made a joint announcement Wednesday that both will convert to digital-only broadcasting Feb. 17.

“The stations in this market have done an outstanding job of educating the public to this conversion and that it would occur on Feb. 17. We greatly appreciate members of Congress for providing stations the flexibility to convert in February as we believe our viewers are ready,” said Frank Brady Jr., vice president and general manager of WVVA-TV.

In a joint statement, station representatives said their research indicated that less than 1 percent of the households in the Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill market were not yet prepared for the conversion from analog to digital.

“As a result of this conversion, viewers will have many programs offered in high definition, which is of incredible quality,” said Bray Cary, president of West Virginia Media Holdings, owner of WVNS-TV. “Plus, most of the stations are offering more than one programming service, which enhances viewers’ options.”

The stations said they would be ready to answer any questions viewers might have about the digital conversion through their Web sites or via phone calls to the stations during business hours.

Jim Martin, chief engineer for WOAY-TV, says his station is receiving at least four calls per day regarding the switch and converter boxes.

“So many viewers are just not ready,” he said. “They are having trouble getting converter boxes and we are not satisfied with the quality of reception for analog television users. Our current plan is to wait until June so that we can continue to serve these customers. We don’t want to lose or alienate any of our viewers. We agree with the federal government that lots of viewers are not ready.”

Crist said the recent DTV bill that moves the required national digital conversion date to June 12 was approved by Congress, but allows stations to go forward with the switch to digital-only broadcasting Feb. 17.

Crist said the president is expected to sign it into law in the next week to ten days.

“This new legislation, though, still allows for stations to convert earlier if they so choose, which area broadcasters have elected to do, consistent with Federal Communications Commission rules,” she explained.

This means those with rabbit ears or rooftop antenna will have to have a converter box to get these channels, except for WOAY. Those with cable and satellite television service do not need a converter box, Crist said.

“Viewers need to educate themselves about the converter box and make sure that it is hooked up properly,” she said.

Crist suggested viewers call the television station if they are having trouble picking up that station after installing the converter box.

WSAZ in the Charleston-Huntington television market intends to permanently cease analog television service on Feb. 17 as well. Also in the Charleston-Huntington market, WCHS, WVAH and WOWK will also permanently cease analog television service on Feb. 17.

It is anticipated that the stations will transition to digital-only broadcasting between midnight and 1 p.m. on Feb. 17. Each station will be informing their viewers of the exact time of the switch through station announcements and newscasts, Crist added.

“If you watch these stations on an analog TV with rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna, you can continue to receive the station by using a converter box, subscribing to cable or satellite service or buying a TV with a digital tuner,” Crist said.

For more information concerning the DTV transition, converter boxes and how you can continue to receive the station, call 1-877-388-5473. This number is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by people who can answer questions, officials said.

— E-mail:

fpace@register-herald.com