December 2018

We’re almost two weeks into Phase 2 of the spectrum repack. With more than 100 stations scheduled to change frequencies between now and April 12, 2019, we can help you prepare your viewers for your transition.

TVAnswers.org/tools provides on-air and online tools for stations, 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.

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.

Earlier this year, broadcasters were successful in securing an additional $1 billion in reimbursement funds for stations impacted by the spectrum repack. This bill also provided funding to the Federal Communications Commission for consumer outreach and education. On Dec. 12, the House Energy and Commerce telecommunications subcommittee held a hearing on the legislation authorizing those funds – RAY BAUM'S Act. National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Executive Vice President of Government Relations Curtis LeGeyt testified on behalf of NAB, along with representatives from PBS, the wireless industry and public safety.

In his testimony, LeGeyt thanked Congress for the additional funds and identified obstacles impacting broadcasters' ability to meet repack deadlines, including tower crew availability and weather delays. Several members of Congress engaged LeGeyt on issues surrounding the aggressive repack timeframe, agreeing that viewers should not lose service if a station is unable to meet its deadline for reasons beyond its control.

A link to the full video of the hearing can be found here.

We received several questions from viewers asking why they could no longer receive information about stations in their electronic programming guides after transitions took place. Don’t forget to alert your programming guide providers when you move to a new frequency to ensure your viewers continue to have access to the correct programming information.   

Online Guide Listing

Online guide listings will only be affected if your major/virtual number (the channel number you see on your TV) and minor channel numbers (subchannels such as 5.2 and 5.3) are changing.

For example, if your major/virtual channel is changing from 48 (48.1) to 24 (24.1), you need to let all data and online guide providers know so that viewers see accurate programming information on the guide.

Changes to your physical (RF) channel should not affect online guide listings.

Data Provider

The four major data providers to inform are:

• Red Bee Media (formerly FYI Television)
• Gracenote (formerly TMS)
• Rovi (formerly TV Guide)
• TV Media

It could take electronic program guide data providers 48 to 72 hours to update their systems depending on the day of the week and time they are informed.

PSIP Data Service Provider

If your station is only moving to a different frequency and the virtual channel number that viewers know will not change, only PSIP data providers should be notified.

This should be done two weeks prior to the estimated rescan day and include the following information:

• The new frequency number
• Any major and/or minor channel number changes
• If you're removing any subchannels

PSIP data service providers include:

• TitanTV, Inc.
• Gracenote (formerly TMS)
• Rovi (formerly TV Guide)

Failing to work with your providers to update post-frequency change information could cause confusion for your viewers because they won't see these changes on the online programming guides and/or what is coming through on their PSIP data. 

January begins a new Congress in Washington, D.C. That means there will be new legislators who may not be aware of stations’ upcoming frequency moves. Make sure your members of Congress know when your station is changing frequencies and ask them to help spread the word. Click here for a sample letter to your members of Congress. As a reminder, there are tools available for Congressional offices at TVAnswers.org/Congress. They can also use the online search tool to find all stations in their state or congressional district that are transitioning to new frequencies as part of the spectrum repack.

Stations assigned to Phase 1 were required to change frequencies by November 30. However, several stations were not able to meet this deadline due to extreme weather and other situations beyond their control. The FCC granted these stations waivers to extend their deadlines. 

If your station anticipates delays for any reason, please email NABMarketing@nab.org so we can help you communicate with your viewers and the FCC to account for any issues. 

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.

ICYMI: Check out our recent feature on low-power TV (LPTV) and TV translator stations. The TV Answers team sat down with Robert Weller, vice president of Spectrum Policy at NAB to learn more about this complicated subject. Read the blog here.

Despite being required to move to a new frequency, low-power stations and TV translators are not guaranteed a new frequency to broadcast on. Because those stations are not included in the spectrum repack schedule set by the FCC, over-the-air viewers who watch television on a low-power station could experience interruptions in their normal broadcast schedule if an LPTV or translator moves frequencies.

If your station operates low-power TV (LPTV) stations and/or translators that are also moving frequencies, please notify us of their transition dates as well so this information can be included in our TVAnswers.org database. This is very important as viewers do not differentiate between full-power and LPTV/TV translator stations and many may not realize they are receiving the signal via translator.

Telemundo Arizona changed frequencies during Phase 1 and hosted excellent resources to guide their viewers through the transition process. With step-by-step instructions for how to rescan on a variety of TVs, over-the-air viewers across Arizona were prepared for these changes. Kudos to Telemundo Arizona!

As a reminder, if your station is inspired to create similar visually-compelling and informative instructions for your viewers, don't forget to access the messaging tools available to stations at TVAnswers.org/tools to help communicate your station's frequency move.

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