On June 12th , 2009, at approximately 3:00 a.m., WHEC-TV will end analog TV transmissions. All other TV stations in Rochester will also end their analog TV transmissions on that same day, if they have not already.  After that date, only digital TV signals ("DTV") will be broadcast in the United States.

To continue to receive television programming from WHEC-TV after June 12th, you must either:
1. Use a digital-capable TV receiver
2. Connect your existing analog TV to a cable TV or satellite TV service.
3. Use a "digital TV converter box" (information on purchasing one is below)

If you use an antenna to receive your television programming "over the air" on an analog TV, and you wish to continue to receive it that same way, you may purchase a "digital TV converter box", which is installed between your antenna and your TV, and makes the digital TV signals viewable on an analog TV.

Digital TV converter boxes are available at many large home & electronics retailers in the Rochester area, like WalMart, RadioShack and Target Stores.

You can apply for a coupon, valued at $40, to use toward the purchase of a "digital TV converter box".  Complete information regarding this coupon program along with purchasing, installing and operating that converter box can be found a this web site: www.dtv.gov

You can also apply for a coupon by phone, by calling 1-(888) 388-2009.

WHEC-TV currently transmits its DTV signal on UHF channel 58, although digital TV's and DTV converter boxes identify it as "channel 10.1" or channel 10.2".  On June 12th, WHEC-TV will turn off the UHF channel 58 digital transmitte,r and turn on a VHF channel 10 digital transmitter.  Even if you are already receiving WHEC-TV's digital signal, on June 12th you will need to tell your DTV receiver or DTV converter box to "re-scan" for channels, so that it can "find" the WHEC-TV signal on its new channel. You cannot do this prior to WHEC-TV making the channel change on June 12th.

Any antenna that can receive our channel 10 analog signal will be able to receive our new channel 10 digital signal.  Some new antennas labeled as "digital-ready" are actually designed to receive UHF signals, and may not be the best choice for VHF signals, such as our channel 10 signal.  If you are purchasing a TV antenna, you should specifically request one that can receive both VHF and UHF channels.