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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE: Updates, resources, and context

The Digital Television Switch is On

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo and FCC Chairman Kevin Martin flip on the symbolic digital switch.
Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo and FCC Chairman Kevin Martin flip on the symbolic digital switch.

By Marina Giovannelli

Wilmington, NC –

The big switch from analog to digital television took place on Monday.

In city council chambers, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo and the Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin flipped a huge light switch to symbolize the transition.

When broadcasters flipped the switch from analogue to digital, viewers who didn't have a converter box for their televisions heard the following message on their televisions:

If you are hearing this message, this television set has not yet been upgraded to digital.

Lauren Limerick, a student from Elon University, answered calls at WECT from viewers having difficulty getting a signal after the transition.

"So we've moved the antenna and you're still not getting anything. And you are receiving all the other channels. Let me look into what may be the problem and we'll try to get you set up," says Limerick.

Limerick says the problems in Wilmington, which served as the nation's test market, will be used to help prevent glitches when every television in the nation switches to digital in February.

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@whqr.org.