KIXE public TV goes digital this week

North State public television station KIXE is scheduled to discontinue its traditional analog broadcast on Wednesday, Aug. 20, and begin broadcasting a fullstrength digital signal by Aug. 22.

Viewers with older television sets who rely on "rabbit ears" or an outside antenna to pick up KIXE's programs will not receive the new digital or DTV signal unless they have purchased and installed a digital converter box.

Charter and Comcast cable TV customers and viewers who subscribe to a satellite service like DirectTV or Dish Network will not be affected. Similarly, viewers with TV sets featuring builtin digital tuners (typically manufactured in March 2007 or later) and those who have already set up a DTV converter box will enjoy uninterrupted service.

During the two-week period beginning Aug. 18, viewers in outlying communities will experience intermittent outages while KIXE's engineers convert the translators that deliver the public television station's signal to parts of 10 counties. Once that work is completed, the free over-the-air television — the way many viewers now receive their TV signal — will be broadcast as a DTV signal only.

Viewers can expect crystal clear picture and sound — and be able to receive additional free broadcast TV channels, including KIXE's current program schedule on Channel 9-2; CREATE, a PBS channel packed with how-to programs, on Channel 9-3; and a high-definition broadcast (from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.) on Channel 9-1.

To help with the transition to DTV, the federal government has established a coupon program to help with the purchase of the DTV converter boxes, which retail for about $60 each. Each household will be eligible for two $40 coupons, each good toward the purchase of one converter box. Apply for the coupons by visiting www.dtv2009.gov or by calling 1-888-388-2009. You will receive coupons and a list of retailers in this area that accept the coupons and carry the eligible boxes.

For more information, visit www.kixe.org or call KIXE at 243-5493.