Installation of digital, high-definition transmitter and antenna to interrupt PBS 49 signal June 22-25

PBS 45 & 49 viewers in the Cleveland, Akron and Canton areas will experience interruptions of the stations' PBS 49 off-air broadcast signal during installation of the new digital and high-definition transmitter and antenna for the Copley-based PBS 50.

Work begins Tuesday, June 22 and will be finished as soon as weather permits, with the projected date of completion sometime on Friday, June 25. Cable companies in northeast Ohio that carry the PBS 49 (WEAO) signal have been asked to pick up PBS 45 (WNEO/ Youngstown) for the duration of the installation to avoid interruption in service.

“We appreciate our viewers’ understanding and look forward to providing the community with state-of-the-art picture and sound on PBS 46 & 50,” said Don Freeman, director of programming and operations. “We’ll also continue to provide the high-quality programs viewers enjoy through our analog service on PBS 45 & 49.”

All over-the-air broadcasters have been assigned new channel designations for their federally- mandated digital conversions. Because PBS 45 & 49 will continue to carry the stations' analog service for the foreseeable future, the stations have been assigned channels 46 and 50 for digital and high definition services.

"PBS 46 HD (Youngstown) is currently available over the air to viewers who have digital receivers, and it's also carried on Massillon Cable and Time-Warner Cable in the Akron/Canton/Kent areas," explained Freeman. "PBS 50 HD is expected to be available over the air in August." PBS 46 HD broadcasts from the stations' facility in Salem, also the home of the PBS 45 signal.

"As cable companies expand their digital and high definition tiers, we want to make sure the exceptional programming available from PBS HD will be widely available to viewers in northeast Ohio," said Freeman.