(3 July 2009 3:45 pm)

MUMBAI: The transition to digital TV has got its hiccups. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the government is aiding 24 TV stations as it had become difficult for them to receive signals by antenna when they switched to new frequencies as part of the digital TV transition.

The FCC has given temporary permission to some stations to boost their signal strength as part of a long-term solution and also sent its engineers to some of the cities. ABC-affiliated Channel 6 in Philadelphia and the ABC station in Chicago have had problems.

After the 12 June deadline, the FC’s help centre received 30 per cent callers seeking for help. The situation has improved after that and this week the FCC is left with 20 per cent callers who still need help.

On 12 June, TV stations switched off their analogue broadcasts in cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and Dallas and moved their digital broadcasts from the UHF to the VHF band.

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