KIXE is broadcasting in full power digital! Re-scan your digital channels!

North state public television station KIXE discontinued it's traditional analog broadcast and became full power digital Friday August 22 at 6 PM.

Viewers with older television sets who rely on “rabbit ears” or an outside antenna to pick up KIXE’s programs will not receive the new digital or DTV signal unless they have purchased and installed a digital converter box.

With the full transition in place, it is important for people with converter boxes and new digital televisions to re-scan their channels. This is a fuction on your new digital devices which will allow the devices to find the digital channels for you.

Charter and Comcast cable TV customers and viewers who subscribe to a satellite service like DirectTV or Dish Network will not be affected. Similarly, viewers with TV sets featuring built-in digital tuners (typically manufactured in March 2007 or later), and those who have already set up a DTV converter box, will enjoy uninterrupted service.

During the two-week period beginning Aug. 18, viewers in outlying communities will experience intermittent outages while KIXE’s engineers convert the translators that deliver the public television station’s signal to parts of 10 counties.

Once that work is completed, the free over-the-air television—the way many viewers now receive their TV signal—will be broadcast as a DTV signal only.

Viewers can expect crystal clear picture and sound—and be able to receive additional free broadcast TV channels, including KIXE’s current program schedule on Channel 9-2; CREATE, a PBS channel packed with how-to programs, on Channel 9-3; and a high-definition broadcast (from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.) on Channel 9-1.

To help with the transition to DTV, the federal government has established a coupon program to help with the purchase of the DTV converter boxes, which retail for about $60 each.

Each household will be eligible for two $40 coupons, each good toward the purchase of one converter box. You can apply for the coupons by visiting www.dtv2009.gov or by calling 1-888-388-2009. You will receive coupons and a list of retailers in our area who accept the coupons and carry the eligible boxes.

Even cable and satellite customers should keep in mind they may need DTV converter boxes for additional TV sets being used in dens, kitchens, garages, RVs and other places if those sets are not connected to a pay service.

Why the switch to DTV? The federal government has mandated significant changes for the entire television broadcasting industry. By law, all American television stations must cease analog broadcasts and begin digital broadcasts by Feb. 17, 2009.

“We’re committed to helping viewers make the switch as painlessly as possible,” Tisdel said, noting that viewers are encouraged to visit www.kixe.org or call KIXE at 243-5493 with any questions.