UA News

The public television station is working to inform its viewers that it opted to make the shift early partially because of recent water damage to equipment.

The public television broadcast from KUAT-TV is making the switch to all digital broadcast at the end of March, before the national deadline in June. 

KUAT will stop broadcasting on analog Channel 6 and only provide a digital signal beginning at midnight on March 31.

"Recent weather damage to our broadcast equipment on Mt. Bigelow has influenced our decision to make the switch early for KUAT Channel 6 in Tucson," said Jack Gibson, director and general manager of Arizona Public Media.

Over-the-air analog broadcast service for Channel 6 will end March 31 at 11:59 p.m., ten weeks before the scheduled digital transition date. 

"We have been informing our viewers for more than a year that the transition was coming," Gibson said.

Beginning April 1, KUAT Channel 6 will be available to those with televisions capable of receiving a digital signal, or those who have purchased digital converter boxes to receive the signal in analog televisions. Those viewing KUAT6 via cable providers or satellite television will not affected.

"It was our full intention to continue the KUAT analog signal until the June 12 national transition date," Gibson said, "but the damaged equipment must be removed as soon as possible and sent for repairs."

Viewers in the immediate Tucson area using a set-top or rooftop antenna to receive Channel 6 who have not installed a digital converter box can still tune to Channel 27, which serves the majority of metropolitan Tucson on KUAS-TV.

Channel 27 will continue to be available in analog until June 12.

Viewers who have questions about the digital switch can call (520) 621-5828 or send an e-mail to DTV@AZpublicmedia.org. Additional information is also available on the Arizona Public Media Web site. 

Public television viewers who have made the digital switch will notice better sound and a clearer picture than was available via the analog signal.

The original transition date for television stations nationwide to completely switch to digital broadcasting was February 17, 2009, but the deadline was extended to June by the Federal Communications Commission amid concern that a large portion of the nation's television viewers had still not made the necessary equipment switch.

Converter box coupons are again available through the Federal Communications Commission by calling 1-888-225-5322. TTY is 1-888-TELL-FCC. For coupon information, visit the TV Converter Box Coupon Program Web site. People ordering coupons should be aware that they may not receive them by the digital transition date.