One minute Monday evening indicated to television viewers whether they are ready for the switch from analog to digital broadcasting, which will be a permanent change Feb. 17, 2009.
Forty-five local television stations across Pennsylvania sent out a digital-only signal for 60 seconds at 6:25 p.m. Monday, said Richard Wyckoff, president of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters.
"The test is two-pronged for viewers: one, to test their paid providers and the other is to give them a heads up as to what's coming in 90 days," Wyckoff said.
If the picture was uninterrupted, viewers don't need to do anything else to prepare for the change, Wyckoff said. Any viewers with cable or satellite TV who experienced problems should contact their paid provider.
The switch will provide a better picture and will give viewers more choices, he added.
WJAC-TV was among the local stations that participated in the test.
"We are 100 percent ready, and I can't wait for it to be over with," WJAC-TV's Director of Engineering Rob Abele. "This has created a huge amount of questions in viewers' minds."
WJAC-TV has been broadcasting in digital since 2002, Abele said, and the station is working with viewers to help them with the switch. On Feb. 17, WJAC will shut off Channel 6, which has been around since the 1940s, and the WJAC station in State College will then be Channel 42, Abele said.
"Probably more than 90 percent of our audience in this area is watching us over cable TV or satellite TV," Abele said. "Those people have nothing to worry about."
But, for the viewers who received a message from the station indicating their TV did not pass the test, they have a few options: subscribe to cable or satellite TV, or purchase a converter box or digital television.
The government has issued $40 coupons for converter boxes, and each household is allowed two coupons, Wyckoff said.
Annie Bontempo (senior-Latin American studies) said she didn't see the test but has seen messages on TV before talking about the February switch. The change should not affect her because she has cable, she said, adding most people have likely heard about the digital change.
"I think after Feb. 17, people will pay more attention to it," Bontempo said.
But Monday night's minute-long test should entice procrastinators to take advantage of the coupons in time for the permanent switch to digital television, Wyckoff said.
"I'm sure come Feb. 18, there will be someone who claims never to have heard anything about it," Wyckoff said. "I hope not, but I would imagine so."
