New York City to show some tough love to TV viewers

This Tuesday, October 28th, NYC is cutting out analog television for three minutes. They aren’t pulling any punches; analog signals will go dark between 5:58PM and 6:01PM right in time to mess up most news programs.

If you aren’t aware, on February 19, 2009, all television broadcasts in the U.S. will be digital. If you (or more likely, your grandparents) have a television without a digital tuner, you will not be able to watch free over-the-air television without a converter box.

For those in NYC who are receiving analog television signals, this should be a wake up call. According to Nielsen, 97% of New York City is ready for digital. However, since NYC is huge, 3% is still a lot of people.

I have heard this idea before on the HDTV Podcast. The hosts had suggested just cutting out analog signals during prime time to startle viewers into understanding the change over. Maybe someone in NYC took the HT Guys’ advice.

Read: [AM NY]
Listen to the HT Guys: [HT Guys]
Learn more about the switch: [DTV.gov]