Arizona Public Media will complete its conversion from analog to digital on Friday.
The final analog television program service from Arizona Public Media will cease on this week's federal deadline for analog broadcasting.
The KUAS Channel 27, which is serving Northwest Tucson, Oro Valley and Marana viewers, will end on June 12 at 11:59 p.m.
The move completes Arizona Public Media's digital transition of all its public television channels. KUAT Channel 6 ceased analog broadcasting earlier this year due to weather damage to equipment. Prior to that, television programming had been transmitted in both digital and analog since 2002.
The original 2009 transition date for television stations nationwide to completely switch to digital broadcasting was February 17, 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.
Locally, over-the-air analog broadcast service for Channel 6 ended on March 31 – that was 10 weeks before the June digital transition deadline.
Beginning June 12, over-the-air television viewers need either a digital-ready television or a digital converter box connected to a UHF antenna to receive digital television, or DTV, signals.
Viewers watching Channel 6 or Channel 27 via cable providers or satellite television are not affected by the DTV switch over.
For 30 days following the termination of PBS program services, KUAS Channel 27 will provide a "nightlight" service, broadcasting only programs and announcements in English and Spanish related to the conversion viewers must make in order to receive digitally transmitted programs.
Broadcast TV viewers who have questions about the digital switch can call 520-621-5828. Additional information is also available at the Arizona Public Media Digital TV Preparation Web site. Viewers may also call the FCC's helpline at 1-888-225-5322.
Steve Delgado
Arizona Public Media
520-621-7358