You Were Mostly Prepared for the Digital Transition

For last week's Wednesday poll, we asked you whether you were set for the digital transition. Turns out, most of you were -- 62%. A couple of you bought a converter box, while still others of you proclaimed that TV is a joke, and that you only surf the Internet anyways.

Of course, no mass hysteria resulted from the changeover; other than some reception problems around the country, the shift from analog to digital went rather smoothly. Did any of you encounter any problems?

Stan Chambers Ends the Analog TV Era

And so goes analog TV. Legendary KTLA newsman Stan Chambers helped shut down that station's analog signal Friday night at 10:45 p.m., as he and grandson Jamie Chambers reported live from KTLA's Mt. Wilson transmitter site.



Chambers, like I mentioned below, is one of the few individuals who can say their career spanned the entire length of the analog broadcasting era. He joined KTLA in 1947, soon after the station signed on the air. And now, in 2009, he was there to take part in the transition to digital.



Of course, this was a non-story for most of us who subscribe to cable or satellite. But for the folks who rely on over-the-air signals to watch TV, it's going to be interesting to see how the new digital era is received. People with HD receivers will likely be pleased with the crisp picture... but the digital signals are supposedly more problematic at times -- especially in bad weather, or when there is some sort of obstruction. Will that make it harder to pick up TV stations, even if you're properly hooked up? I guess we'll see how people react in the coming months.

Meanwhile, here's a video someone on YouTube took of KTLA's final moments on the analog air:



And here's how KTTV/Channel 11, with no pomp or circumstance, cut its analog signal:

P.M. Analog-to-Digital Update: L.A.'s Halfway There

Above, KDOC-TV/Channel 56 broadcasts a note to analog TV viewers: Better go git yerself one of them new-fangled digital screens!

As of late afternoon, KCBS/2 and KNBC/4 had already shut off their analog signals. But as "nightlight" stations, they'll now be broadcasting a digital TV message on a loop for the next few weeks, explaining to people why they're no longer receiving their regular TV.

KTLA/5, KTTV/11 and KCOP/13 are still on the analog air at the moment, as are the Spanish-language TV stations. KABC/7, KCAL/9 and KCET/28 are already off.

On KTLA, legendary newsman Stan Chambers -- who was on that station for virtually its entire run on analog (except for a year or so), will be the man pushing the button to cut its analog feed for good.

After today, with your rabbit ears, you'll still be able to get the handful of low-power TV stations in the area. That's because low power stations weren't impacted by the switch to digital. But L.A.'s low-power outlets are all either Spanish-language, informercials or... well, more informercials sprinkled with mostly black-and-white public domain fare.

WEDNESDAY POLL: Are You Ready for Digital TV?

According to Nielsen, just 2.8 million viewers are still unprepared for Friday's transition from analog to digital. Where do you stand? Vote below.

Here's When L.A.'s TV Stations Make The Big Switch to Digital

You've been hearing about the big shift from analog to digital TV for months... or perhaps even years. Now, it finally takes place on Friday.

According to Nielsen, the majority of U.S. TV viewers are now ready for the change -- either they have cable or satellite, a newer TV with a digital tuner or a converter box that will allow them to keep watching digital signals on their analog sets.

If you've still got an older TV set, then you'll be able to watch as our local TV stations shut their analog set off for good. Here's a list, via TVNewsTalk.net, of when Los Angeles' VHF stations plan to make the leap on Friday:

KNBC - 6 AM
KABC - 12 Noon
KCBS - 1 PM
KCAL - 1 PM
KTLA - 10:45 PM
KTTV - 11:45 PM
KCOP - 11:45 PM

Looks like KTTV and KCOP are waiting until the last moment to make the switch. Regardless, come Saturday, that old TV collecting dust in your garage just became obsolete.