[Jeffhs]

Cleveland had its DTV "soft test" a couple of weeks ago; I don't remember offhand what station ran it. I didn't see any kind of signal interruption since I have cable, nor did I see any messages to the effect that analog TV will end on 02.17.09. I guess the system was set up so that if you have cable, satellite or AT&T U-Verse, you would not see this message as these systems are prepared for the transition.

BTW, from the "here we go again department": The DTV transition will likely be pushed back yet again. First it was 2006, now it is February 17 this year, and who knows how far it will be pushed back the next time? I wish the powers-that-be in charge of DTV would make up their minds and stick to a firm date for the transition. I read a blog on Broadcasting and Cable.com recently, in which it was mentioned that some full-power analog TV stations have already discontinued analog broadcasts and are fully digital; further, the article stated that many if not most OTA TV stations have a firm commitment to end analog broadcasting on 02.17 even if the transition date is changed, meaning that they have already hired contractors to dismantle their analog antenna facilities and are also having their digital antenna systems optimized for full-power operation; this will almost certainly improve DTV reception in all parts of a television station's coverage area. The same article mentioned that an FCC official is against the date change because it will result in consumer confusion and other problems, so I just don't know whether they will eventually see the light and leave the transition to occur on 02.17 or if the date will be pushed back, resulting, as I said, in confusion and who knows what other problems. The National Association of Broadcasters, moreover, has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on public service announcements which state the DTV transition date as 02.17.09; these PSAs are still running on local TV stations. If the date is changed, these announcements will of course immediately be rendered incorrect, which will add to viewers' ire.

Sheeeeeeeeeeesh.