SEATTLE - KING-TV and KONG-TV will delay switching off their analog signals until June 12, following the lead of Pres. Obama and Congress.
Congress on Wednesday agreed to delay the nationwide Digital TV switch, originally planned for Feb. 17, due to concerns that some six million households are not ready for it.
KONG-TV had been advising its viewers that it would switch off its analog signal Friday, Feb. 6. That decision was changed Thursday morning.
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Despite the decision by Congress, some stations are choosing to go ahead with the switch on Feb. 17.
One of the reasons KING and KONG are holding off is because nearly five percent of all households in the Seattle media market are not ready to receive digital. Antennas are part of the problem.
"You don't have to have a fancy antenna, you just need to have the right antenna," said Will Urban of antennavoodoo.com. His Seattle roof is covered with antennas he's tested out.
Hills, forests, even weather conditions can all affect an antenna's signal, if not block it. People watching from farther away will have the most trouble.
"People in the outlying areas are probably going to want to upgrade their antenna or add an amplifier to the antenna they already have," said Urban.
Urban says going with an outdoor antenna can make a huge difference. But, places like Whidbey Island may have no other option but go to cable or satellite.
Urban says in any environment, moving antennas around and raising them up, even just a few inches, can help bring in the new digital signals.
