WNEO analog signal goes permanently off the air

KENT — Western Reserve Public Media (formerly PBS-TV channels 45/49) is in the process of the digital conversion of its WNEO signal, which is seen by viewers in the greater Youngstown area, western Pennsylvania and portions of Portage and Stark counties. As a result of the conversion process, analog channel WNEO 45 will permanently go off the air today, three months ahead of the national analog shut-off date. The WNEO digital channels, 45.1 and 45.2, which have been off air since Nov. 12, will return with an improved, stronger signal Friday.

During the transition time, subscribers to Armstrong Cable, Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Dish Network and DirecTV will continue to receive Western Reserve PBS programming via the organization’s WEAO transmitter in Copley. The WEAO-TV Channel 49, which serves viewers in the greater Cleveland, Akron and Canton area, is unaffected by the early WNEO conversion.

Western Reserve Public Media’s analog channel, W58AM-TV, which serves the low-lying areas of the Mahoning Valley, is currently off air due to the need for transmitter repairs. The organization’s engineers are assessing the situation to determine whether to make an early digital conversion of this channel.

Television viewers who own analog TV sets and use rooftop or rabbit-ear antennas to receive their TV signals will need to make a change in order to view WNEO channels (and to view all full-power TV channels following the Feb. 17 national conversion). Their options are to purchase a converter box for their existing TV, purchase a TV that has a digital tuner or subscribe to a pay-TV service.

Western Reserve Public Media has set up a DTV Help Desk at 800-388-4727 for those who have questions about the digital conversion. Information also is available at WesternReservePublicMedia.org.