Digital TV changes won't afffect MTN

By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@mountaintimes.com

Local television station Mountain Television Network says it is prepared for the transition to digital broadcasting, but some consumers will need to select converter boxes that will carry analog signals.

Station owner Steve Rondinaro said the Federal Communications Commission’s digital-conversion requirement doesn’t apply to Class A or low-power stations.

MTN-TV, broadcasting via antenna on UHF Channel 24, will continue to broadcast with no interruption.
The conversion is scheduled to take effect next Feb. 17. High-powered television stations are required to broadcast digital signals, and some are already doing so. The FCC has not yet set any conversion date for stations that primarily supply news and information in mountainous and rural areas, Rondinaro said.

“We have no plans to go anywhere,” said MTN spokesperson Christie James. “There are two points of confusion. One is people will not be able to receive MTN on their antenna. As far as we can see in the future, MTN will still be available on the TV sets through the antenna.”

James said the other issue is that people with cable and satellite dishes already have digital conversion, so those consumers won't have to do anything to continue to receive MTN or their regular channels. Those who want to convert to digital signals and still get antenna-broadcast channels can buy a converter box that has an analog pass-through.

“Antenna-only” viewers will not have to do anything to continue receiving MTN-TV, according to Rondinaro. The FCC recommends that any analog-only viewer who wants to view both full-powered and low-powered stations on their TV should purchase a digital converter with an analog pass-through, such as Echostar TR-40, Magnavox TB-100MG9, Philco TB100HH9 or Philco TB150HH9.

Rondinaro, who is now a television news anchor in Wilmington, has put the station up for sale. It was advertised on the Internet auction site eBay for $495,000.