WCBS TV New York Analog TV Sign Off June 12th 2009
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October 31, 2009 |
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television broadcasts were experimental, often only for one hour a day, and reaching a limited area in and around New York City (over station W2XAB channel 2, later called WCBW and finally WCBS-TV). The FCC began licensing commercial television stations on July 1, 1941; [on that day, they issued a license] to WCBW, (now WCBS). On Feb 12 1946, the newly completed AT&T inter-city coaxial cable was inaugurated with an experimental broadcast of Lincoln Memorial Services from Washington DC to NBC …
25 Responses to “WCBS TV New York Analog TV Sign Off June 12th 2009”
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The announcement referred to an 8-minute video about the US digital TV transition, what and why it happened, and how to get the new digital channels on analog TV’s using converter boxes. WCBS-TV aired this video continuously for 30 days on analog channel 2. “Nightlight” referred to WCBS being the last analog signal on for the above purpose. The off-camera announcer does CBS network promos, esp. dramas and reality shows, hence his dramatic voice.
The announcer was really into that, wasn’t he??
I respect the anthem but I asked as the announcer said this public info.station before he said good day and the anthem played
Shut up! They’re playing the anthem.
What is a nightlight public information station or whatever the announcer said ?
But people were hearing about the switch for more than a year, so many people should’ve been prepared earlier.
I hate procrastination.
Cool nod to the classic test pattern…but could that announce be less enthused?
anpanman!
If only it was back.
no
because the VO is their current announcer
Is it true they took out the analog equipment so now they can’t just flip the switch back to analog?
You know if there is any video of it? i would liked to seen it
And they did it at around 6:00 AM, six hours late. They may have been the very last full-powered analog on the air in the U.S.
They should have kept the nightlight program for 3-4 months or better yet for one year to make sure everyone is ready for DTV. I don’t think having the nightlight program for only a few weeks was enough because many are still not going to be ready for it in that short amount of time. They need to turn it back on to continue the nightlight program for a longer time period like for a year.
Thanks for all the great comments. Unfortunately the July 13th signoff from nightlight mode was unceremonious. The transmitter engineers just flipped the switch and we went to hash.
Classic sign-off and sign-on. I’m very grateful you posted this. I was involved in the switchover as part of my job, and our building lost power that morning and sent everyone home. I stayed as long as I could to catch the transition (on 13, 11 and 7) but was on the train going home when WCBS switched off and was out of range with my Watchman. I thought it was to be at 2 PM when I would have been in range…but unfortunately, was not.
I am still hoping someone caught the shutoff July 13.
I wonder if they can still switch it on,one day and if anyone would know?
Did you see it?, i am trying to fine on Youtube if anyone posted it
I wonder if they just shut it off by flipping the switch?
I did’nt see WCBS-TV go off on July 12, did they just shut it off? wish there is a video posted on here
Thank you so much for uploading this! I’ve been hearing so much about this signoff.. I only did WABC but I was not home when WCBS signed off.
Yes we want to see it!
On July 12, don’t forget to record WCBS-TV off the air to get their final, final signoff (assuming they do one). WNBC’s final analog signoff was brief, given that they didn’t have much equipment feeding the analog transmitter, but it was kind of classy.
wow… really wanted to see this… thanks for posting!
I wanted very much to see this live but I missed it. Thanks for the catch!
Most stations seem to have paid very little homage to their 60+ years of analog NTSC broadcasting; many made little or no reference to their history. At least CBS did it up fairly nicely