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We’re a little more than two weeks away from the end of Phase 1 of the spectrum repack. November 30 is the last day for stations assigned to Phase 1 to change frequencies.
Our data indicates nearly 30 stations have selected Nov. 30 as their Rescan Day. Please alert NAB and your Federal Communications Commission regional coordinator immediately if your station is scheduled to transition in Phase 1, but may experience delays beyond Nov. 30. It’s critical that NAB has your most up-to-date information in our database as we will use that to inform viewers when to rescan their TV sets. You can contact us by emailing NABMarketing@nab.org.
As a reminder, TVAnswers.org/tools has numerous resources to help you prepare your viewers for your Rescan Day. There are on-air and online tools, including talking points, sample scripts, suggested social media posts, social media graphics and customizable spots that instruct viewers how to rescan their TVs or converter boxes.
Is Your Station on Track for Rescan Day? |
With numerous rescan days approaching, NAB recommends all stations review the following steps:
- Is your date on track?
It has come to our attention that some stations are experiencing delays and could miss their scheduled Rescan Day. Delays have been due to weather, such as Hurricane Michael in Florida or the high winds that have been reported in the midwest, as well as the limited number of tower crews available. If you are expecting a delay in your station’s transition date, you should notify your regional FCC coordinator and NAB as soon as possible.
- Is your team informed?
Make sure that everyone at your station – from the receptionist to the on-air talent – know the date and time of rescan day and can communicate effectively with viewers that those watching through an antenna need to rescan their TV sets on rescan day.
- Are your viewers ready?
There is a checklist available, as well as numerous resources to help you inform viewers at TVAnswers.org/Tools. Don’t hesitate to contact NAB if you need help. We are also sharing information with viewers who register on TVAnswers.org, so please be sure your information is up-to-date in our online database.
Frequency Asked Questions: Tower Technicians and Low-Power TV in the Spotlight |
As you know, the spectrum repack involves more than just pressing a few buttons on the remote to continue watching over-the-air TV. In order to give audiences a better understanding of what happens behind the scenes, the TV Answers blog highlights “frequency”-asked questions.
This week’s installments spotlight the important work of tower technicians and share more information on low-power television stations.
The TV Answers team spoke with Jeremy Hulse, a broadcast tower technician in College Station, Texas, to find out how tower antennas are moved, what challenges technicians face and how stations are impacted.
Hulse says that most general managers and chief engineers are very knowledgeable about this process and recommends they continue to communicate with their tower technicians and share information with their viewers about the upcoming changes. Read more here.
The TV Answers team has received many questions regarding low-power TV stations and TV translators and the impact the spectrum repack has on them. To learn more about LPTV, we sat down with Robert Weller, vice president of Spectrum Policy at NAB. Read more here.
The TV Answers database features LPTV/translators impacted by the spectrum repack by market. As a reminder, if your station operates LPTV stations and/or translators that are moving frequencies, please contact us with their transition dates at NABMarketing@nab.org. This is very important as viewers do not differentiate between full-power and LPTV stations and many may not realize they are receiving the signal via translator.
TV Answers PSA, #PlanToRescan
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TV Answers has partnered with Aleric Heck from AppFind to help antenna TV viewers make a #PlanToRescan when stations in their area move frequencies.
You can view the YouTube video here, and direct viewers to TVAnswers.org to learn more, access additional resources and sign up for alerts.
Moving Frequencies in Phase 2? Make Sure You’re Prepared |
Phase 2 of the spectrum repack is quickly approaching. Nearly 100 stations are scheduled to change frequencies between December 1, 2018 and April 12, 2019. We encourage you to review this checklist of activities to ensure you are meeting FCC education requirements and aware of best practices recommended by NAB.
If you haven’t already done so, please email NABMarketing@nab.org with your exact rescan day and time so we can help spread the word to your viewers.
Don't forget to also ensure that your members of Congress, state and local legislators and community partners know when your station is changing frequencies. They can help you spread the word. Click here for a sample letter to your members of Congress. As a reminder, there are tools available for other partners – such as Congress and civic organizations at TVAnswers.org/Resources.
We encourage your feedback. If you have questions or information to share with NAB or other stations, please email us at NABMarketing@nab.org.
Click here to add your contact information to stay informed, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates. You can also connect with us using #PlanToRescan to share what you’re doing to inform your audiences about rescanning.
Get Viewer Education Tools at TVAnswers.org/Tools
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