I admit it, I stayed up until midnight last night to watch all the analog TV signals go off the air. WTVP had a short countdown just before midnight that said, “after 37 years” on their analog frequency, they were shutting down “in just a few moments,” but that programming would continue on 47.1, 47.2, and 47.3. Once the countdown hit 0, the signal was gone. Nothing but snow.
When I went to WMBD (31), they were already off the air. WYZZ (43) and WEEK (25) ceased regular programming, but kept their transmitter on to broadcast a public service announcement loop on how to make the conversion to digital television. WHOI (19) did not go off the air yet, opting to keep their analog signal on until the extended cutoff date in June.
There’s no question that the quality of picture and audio is far superior on digital television. The only thing I will miss is the ability to pull in weak signals of television stations from other cities. For instance, I could get an analog signal from channel 8 in the Quad Cities and channels 12 and 17 from Urbana and Decatur, respectively. They were a little snowy, but could still be watched. I cannot get the digital signals from these stations. Not a big deal; just a little something I’ll miss. When I was a little kid, I remember getting a snowy picture of channel 55 out of Springfield, and once — just once, on a freak night — channel 44 out of Chicago.
Farewell, analog. Welcome, digital. I’m looking forward to seeing the St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series in beautiful high-definition glory!
Won’t the Cardinals have to figure out how to stop letting the Cubs win the Division every year first?
Thank you, Scruff. I’m so glad a Cubs fan said something. It gives me the opportunity to remind everyone that since 2000, the Cardinals have been in the postseason six times. Five of those times they advanced to the NLCS, twice to the World Series, and then they won the World Series in 2006. Meanwhile, the Cubs have been in the postseason three times and only once made it past the first round…. And let’s not forget that they haven’t won a World Series in 100 years, and haven’t been to a World Series since 1945.
You’ve made my day, Scruff!
I stayed up until midnight last night to watch all the analog TV signals go off the air.
CJ, the first step is admitting you have a problem.
Diane: Yeah, there ought to be an intervention program for Cardinals fans.
Oh, I know! Two tickets to any game at beautiful Wrigley Field!
😉
Oh, goodness. Did I just violate one of the “terms of use?”
😉
Billy — No intervention necessary for fans of a team who are addicted to winning. It’s fans of a team who are addicted to losing that need an intervention.
And don’t worry on the terms of use. Your manifest jealousy of the St. Louis Cardinals is a credit to how great the team is.
In that case, 2 tickets to the Bears… I mean the Bulls… er.. the Blackhawks??? Dang, is anyone winning in Chicago?
The Blackhawks are actually really, really hot right now – 4th place in the competative Western Conference with a record of 32-15-8 (6 games behind 1st place San Jose).
Give the Hawks some love. That’s one of the hottest tickets in Chicago right now.
Unless the Cardinals switched divisions over the winter and I missed it, they aren’t going to the postseason.
Anyone remember Rev. Ken Yocum?
“Somebody Loves You!”
I went to high school with his daughter… I’ll never forget him!
Ken Yocum is still around–just saw his ad in the paper this week. I remember sending a friend of mine to get counseling through his organization. I think his daughter may have gone to Manual. Question: how did Ken Yocum fit into a blog about the end of analog TV?
Haha, I didn’t really bother checking analog channels to see how they’d bid goodbye and transition into digital… Mainly because my TV is already DTV-compatible. It would’ve been great fun though! Why didn’t I think of that!
He is still at the theater at Lake View,still has the CENTER in OakCliff
I’d bet HOI gets a good bump – advertising rates are based on the number of viewers – and HOI will get all those who haven’t made the jump to warp speed. In fact, as I think about it, if I were an advertiser, I might want to move my spots to 19 for a while.
…and jen Christensen rocks!
I’m amazed anyone even cares about MLB anymore considering everything it and its players have done to bring disrepute to the game.
Ken Yocum was the first thing on TV in the morning and the last thing on at night for many years. He also had a 1/2 hour show on Sunday morning. He had a gentle touch and wanted to help people find their way through lifes turmoils. He passed at his home on September 14th and will be missed by many, especially his family. We always knew “Somebody Loved Us”.
Seems like I have watched Rev Yokum for most of my life. There was a man who cared more about others than about himself. R I P.