FCC Identifies Hundreds Of Stations With DTV Coverage Gaps

The Federal Communications Commission released two reports with maps and charts outlining the changes in TV coverage areas from analog to digital service for all 1,749 full-power TV stations in the U.S. They show that 89% of stations (1,533) will see a net gain of viewers in the switch to digital, while 11% (196 stations) will have a net loss. They are net gains and losses, so even the net gains could have some viewers who lose historically-viewed signals, with those offset by ones who now get the digital signals but didn't get them before. The FCC also said it was releasing a report on the 319 stations where more than 2% of the viewers getting an analog signal will not get the comparable digital signal. But the FCC says that number overstates the impact of the deficits since it includes folks who are getting cable and satellite service, which is about 85% of viewers on average in any market. Those viewers are not affected by the over-the-air gaps.