According to the FCC, "following conclusion of the broadcast television incentive auction in April 2017, certain full power and Class A broadcast television stations, including but not limited to those that operate on channels between 38 and 51, are required to move from their pre-auction channels to new channels in the reorganized broadcast television bands (Channels 2-36). The FCC provided stations that either (1) submitted a winning bid to move to the low or high VHF bands (band changing stations), (2) applied but were not auction winners, or (3) did not apply to bid in the auction, with new channel assignments in the reorganized television bands (repacked stations)."
The FCC created a transition period ending in July of this year for all stations to move to their Assigned channels. Some of the stations have already made the transition to their new channels such as WICD-TV, WBUI-TV, KMOV-TV, KPLR-TV, and KDNL-TV.
Beginning in two days, the rest of the stations will be switching their frequencies to make more airwaves or "spectrum" available for wireless broadband and other uses.
Unfortunately, the only way you can watch the stations after they change channels (if you watch via free over-the-air television with an antenna) will need to rescan your TV set each time a station moves to a new channel in order to continue receiving your local TV station. there is no other option available....sorry folks. The stations are making the switch beginning two days from now are as follows (via NoCable.org and Doug Quick):
The FCC Repack for WCIA
WCIA is scheduled to start its repacking process on 4/13/2017 and finish on 1/17/2020. After the repack, the RF channel (not digital) will change from 48 to 34. This means that to continue to view WCIA, you will need to rescan your TV after that scheduled completion date.The FCC Repack for WAND
WAND is scheduled to start its repacking process on 4/13/2017 and finish on 1/17/2020. After the repack, the RF channel (not digital) will change from 17 to 20. This means that to continue to view WAND, you will need to rescan your TV after that scheduled completion date.The FCC Repack for WCIX
WCIX is scheduled to start its repacking process on 4/13/2017 and finish on 5/1/2020. After the repack, the RF channel (not digital) will change from 13 to 11. This means that to continue to view WCIX, you will need to rescan your TV after that scheduled completion date.The FCC Repack for WICS
WICS is scheduled to start its repacking process on 4/13/2017 and finish on 1/17/2020. After the repack, the RF channel (not digital) will change from 42 to 15. This means that to continue to view WICS, you will need to rescan your TV after that scheduled completion date.The FCC Repack for WRSP
WRSP-TV is scheduled to start its repacking process on 4/13/2017 and finish on 1/17/2020. After the repack, the RF channel (not digital) will change from 44 to 16. This means that to continue to view WRSP-TV, you will need to rescan your TV after that scheduled completion date.The FCC Repack for WRBU
WRBU is scheduled to start its repacking process on 4/13/2017 and finish on 3/13/2020. After the repack, the RF channel (not digital) will change from 47 to 28. This means that to continue to view WRBU, you will need to rescan your TV after that scheduled completion date.The FCC Repack for KTVI
KTVI is scheduled to start its repacking process on 4/13/2017 and finish on 3/13/2020. After the repack, the RF channel (not digital) will change from 43 to 33. This means that to continue to view KTVI, you will need to rescan your TV after that scheduled completion date.The FCC Repack for WPXS
WPXS is scheduled to start its repacking process on 4/13/2017 and finish on 5/1/2020. After the repack, the RF channel (not digital) will change from 21 to 13. This means that to continue to view WPXS, you will need to rescan your TV after that scheduled completion date.The FCC Repack for WCCU
The repack of many UHF stations to the lower end of the UHF-TV band provided an opportunity to relocate WCCU, Channel 27 from channel 26 to 36 along with increasing the power and coverage area of the GOCOM station. As of 10 am on January 14, 2020, WCCU will be broadcasting from the 1380-foot WICD, Channel 15 (NewsChannel 20) tower.For the first time, many locations south of US-36 will be able to view WCCU from their outdoor home antenna, as well as many in the Champaign-Urbana and Danville areas will be able to receive the station with their indoor antenna.
The actual off-air coverage area of WCCU will now reach Terre Haute, Lafayette, IN along with Decatur, Bloomington and include Mattoon-Charleston.
……the WCCU antenna hanging on the side of the WICD tower, just below the main mast of the tower which houses the WICD antenna.
Courtesy Doug Quick (Dougquick.com)
As I said, the only way you can watch the stations after they change channels (if you watch via free over-the-air television with an antenna) will need to rescan your TV set each time a station moves to a new channel in order to continue receiving your local TV station. Otherwise, you are just simply out of luck....as some people I know will find out the hard way.
