news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Attention, television viewers. Your analog channels will sign off Friday.

After a four-month delay, digital television will replace over-the-air broadcasting to provide viewers with clearer pictures and sharper sound.

Cable and satellite subscribers shouldn’t worry — those operators are taking care of the necessary conversion issues — but people who receive free over-the-air programming with analog televisions or outdoor antennas will face adjustment.

Some details for the transition remain fuzzy for TV viewers, said Charlie Layno, the transmitter supervisor for WGHP (Fox, Channel 8).

“There’s still some trepidation of what’s going to happen, but that’s a lot more anticipation,” Layno said.

Many people are seeking advice from his group of seven engineers, who are willing to help.

“With the pitfalls, there’s also a lot of hope and promise,” Layno said. “It’s a bold new world.”

The analog shutoff marks the end of an era. Television has broadcast its signals analog since its inception in 1941.

The transition will provide more programming possibilities. For instance, one station could broadcast multiple shows at once.

WGHP is one of seven stations in the Triad that will switch Friday.

WXLV (ABC, Channel 45) and WMYV (MyNetworkTV, Channel 48), both in Winston-Salem, switched on the original date, Feb. 17, to cause less confusion for viewers.

Congress passed the DTV Delay Act in February to extend the deadline for full-power broadcast TV stations to complete the transition.

This also gave more time for consumers to prepare for the DTV transition.

But some people still aren’t ready.

Contact Dioni L. Wise at 373-7090 or dioni.wise@news-record.com