Wilmington Preps for Aug 19 Digital 'Soft Test'

Four commercial stations in Wilmington (NC), site of the earliest complete switch to digital signals, will turn off their analog signals for one minute starting at 7:30 p.m. August 19. ABC affiliate WWAY-TV, NBC affiliate WECT-TV, Fox affiliate WSFX-TV and CBS affiliate WILM-LP will participate in the test. The test is in preparation for the closely watched real end of analog broadcasting in that market on September 8. Nielsen estimates 8.8% of the Wilmington market, or 15,450 homes, relies exclusively on free over-the-air broadcast TV. In addition, some cable or satellite homes also have additional sets that are receiving only over-the-air analog signals. The nationwide transition won't take place until February 17, 2009.