Another analog station bites the dust

[Robert Grant]

I wonder if what channel 48 (W48AV, transmitting from St Clair Shores) has done is a sign that their digital replacement will be on the air soon.

W48AV's switch to this test pattern/warning message comes from the fact that the primary transmitter that feeds it, WPXD, has changed their digital facility from RF Channel 31 in Lyndon Twp (Washtenaw Co.) to RF channel 50 in Southfield (the same pattern and warning are being sent out on channel 31 now)..

I believe if WPXD still wanted to be in analog on channel 48, they could have switched the input to the new RF 50 Southfield transmitter. However, W48AV itself was recently granted a permit to make changes to go to digital, only on channel 25, and from the same tower as their new channel 50 facility (it will likely have different programming, as having a redundant low-power transmitter from the same tower sending the same program would be pointless).

BTW, the channel 42 analog is CKCO3 in Oil Springs, Ont. It will eventually go digital as well (CTV is switching transmitters to digital on a case-by-case basis).