Some stations will make the digital conversion on the original deadline

Network-owned stations agree not to switch to digital until June 12th

Some stations say they will switch on February 17th as planned, including: major Providence stations, those in northern Vermont, Billings (MT), Cedar Rapids/Waterloo/Dubuque, and some in Madison, Wisconsin. (Hawaii's stations already made the switch on January 15th.) The primary reason for making the switch sooner rather than later is to avoid paying for both digital and analog transmission facilities between now and June. In addition, many broadcasters believe that a delay with both negate all the work they've done thus far to get people ready for the February deadline, and will only serve to further confuse people. These station executives believe they have done their part to educate the public, and that those who are still unprepared may never be prepared. That said, the four major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC/Telemundo) have agreed to keep their owned and operated stations broadcasting in analog until the new June deadline. Stations had until yesterday (Feb. 9th) to inform the FCC they wanted to stick to the original date. Sinclair Broadcasting Group's stations intend to switch Feb. 17th while the vast majority of stations owned by Gannett Co. and Hearst-Argyle Television Inc. said they would wait.

Resources and Links:

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/173716-More_Stations_Opt_for_Early_DTV_Switch.php

http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-digitaltv6-2009feb06,0,2008685.story?track=rss