On August 2, 135 television stations in 25 markets across South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama conducted an unprecedented roadblock to alert their viewers to the upcoming transition to digital television (DTV).

Organized by the four state broadcast associations, all of the participating stations ran a 30-second announcement about next year’s switch to digital TV at 7 p.m. EST. The announcement was followed by a half-hour educational program, which explains the transition in further detail. Airing the same programming at the same time is an effective way of reaching more viewers with vital public service messages and helps raise awareness.

By law, all full-power stations must transition to all-digital broadcasting on February 17, 2009, and over-the-air viewers risk losing their reception if they do not upgrade in time.