Get Flash to see this player.

On February 4th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill changing the date of the DTV transition to June 12, 2009. The legislation preserves the right of stations to terminate analog prior to June 12 as long as stations follow the rules established by the FCC. The Act also extends the coupon program until July 31, 2009, and requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to issue, upon request, replacement coupons for each coupon that expires without being redeemed.

WEDU is doing everything in its power to provide uninterrupted service to our viewers, but due to downturn in the economy, maintaining our analog signal until June would be a financial hardship for the station. And, while we are continuing to manage our budget in these tough economic times, the cost of continuing power to our analog signal is simply too costly for our nonprofit station to absorb for an additional four months.

Please be advised that WEDU will comply with the original transition date as mandated by the FCC, and will terminate its analog signal at Midnight on February 17, 2009. If you have already obtained and installed a converter box, or subscribe to cable or satellite service, you will not be affected. If you receive our analog signal with an antenna, you will need to purchase a converter box to receive the digital channels.

For more than a year, WEDU has worked tirelessly in trying to inform you about this transition, and we will continue to provide assistance where we can. Please refer to the phone numbers and various links below for more information. 

Thank you for your support of WEDU. 

Digital television (DTV) is a new type of broadcasting technology that is transforming television as we know it. By transmitting a TV’s picture and sound information as "data bits" - like a computer, digital broadcasts carry far more information and create better viewing experience with vastly improved picture and sound quality.  The difference between analog and digital broadcasting is similar to that between compact discs and cassette tapes.

Digital TV offers a DTV is also more efficient than analog TV technology, so broadcasters will be able to produce additional channels of programming using digital broadcasting technology. 

Consumers also benefit, because digital broadcasting allows stations to offer improved picture and sound quality. Broadcasters will no longer be limited to providing one analog program, they can offer a super-sharp "high definition" (HD) digital program or multiple "standard definition" (SD) digital programs simultaneously through a process called "multicasting."

Multicasting uses the same amount of spectrum required for one analog program, to broadcast several channels of digital programming at the same time. For example, WEDU broadcasts or multicasts four separate channels for west central Florida including:

3.1 – WEDU, home of our normal broadcasts

3.2 – V-me, 24-hour Spanish language programming

3.3 – Florida Knowledge Network, K12 school programming and Florida state government programming

3.4 – WEDU+, custom designed local and lifestyle programming 

Analog television service is the traditional method of transmitting TV signals and has been the standard broadcast technology since the inception of television. Analog television service isn't as efficient as DTV because it uses up much more valuable spectrum.  This additional spectrum freed-up by switching to digital broadcasting will be will be auctioned to companies, so they can provide consumers with more advanced wireless services, such as wireless broadband.

Every TV set made before 1998 was a traditional "analog" television. If you bought a big-screen, projection TV between 1998 and 2004, there is a chance it has a built-in digital tuner inside. Before 2004, only a limited percentage of projection TV sets (generally sets that are 42 inches in diameter or larger) included digital tuners. 

If you bought a new TV set since 2004, there is a high likelihood that it has a built-in digital tuner. In 2004, popular electronics stores started selling many TV sets with built-in digital tuners that will work after February 17, 2009.

Consumers who want to ensure that "over-the-air" television programming will continue on their television should do one of the following before February 17, 2009:

1. Purchase a converter box that plugs into your existing analog TV set.

2. Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner.

3. Subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service

Digital television is available now. If you watch over-the-air television today, using a DTV receiver will allow you to access most or all of your local stations' digital signals. This includes high definition and multicast programming from your local stations

Television sets connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service will not require a converter box. Cable customers who receive analog cable service - without a cable set-top box will be able to continue doing so after the transition.  Cable and satellite subscribers should check with their providers before February 17, 2009, to see how they are handling the transition.

A digital-to-analog converter box will allow you to continue using your existing analog TV set to watch over-the-air digital programming. If your analog set is hooked up to a subscription service, such as cable or satellite TV, it should continue to function as before. Analog sets should also continue working with gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players and similar products that you use now.

WEDU DTV Hotline - 813.254.9338, ext. 3301

It’s hard to remember what life was like without color television, cellular phones or computers, but at the advent of those new marvels of technology, the public was critical of their future.  Today’s newest advance – DTV or digital television, will bring new life to your favorite programs with better sound and picture, and new channels for viewing.