You may have heard that your local station is getting ready to move to a new channel number. For many Americans that is true and you will need to rescan or you will lose your local. A few years ago the FCC started the process of selling over the air TV spectrum. This sale meant many local channels will be switching channel numbers over the next 3 years.
“NAB is devoted to working with Congress, the FCC, the wireless industry and third-party groups to keep the public informed throughout this enormously challenging undertaking,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith in a statement. “Broadcast TV remains Americans’ top source for local news, weather, community programming and emergency information. The broadcast industry is committed to ensuring no viewer is left without these services.”
A total of 957 TV stations will get payments for giving up spectrum from the auction. In total, about 50 wireless bidders—including Comcast/NBCU—got that spectrum. The payouts are large with the largest single TV station getting $304 million for their spectrum. (The 957 number includes subchannels.)
You can check to see if your local channels will move on the AntennaWeb has a site. Here you can enter your zip code and find out if your locals are moving and when.
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