TV switchover leaves some viewers out [View All]

[The Straight Story]

TV switchover leaves some viewers out

DETROIT, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Some Spanish-speaking Detroit residents say they can't watch their favorite television channel following the national switch to digital television transmission.

The changeover left many unable to receive their old broadcast channels. A heavily Spanish-speaking area of Detroit could no longer receive WUDT, the main Spanish language station, The Detroit News reported Friday.

Converter boxes meant to bring in the new digital signals are too expensive for many in the Detroit neighborhood, they say, and often can't pull in channels they used to get easily.

"A lot of the people who live here, the only language they speak is Spanish and they're really frustrated," Gabriela Boyd, a 72-year-old resident, said. "A lot of them can't afford the cable. ... (the station) is very important because that's the way they get their news and entertainment, really. For them, the English channels mean nothing."

The change from analog to digital signals last summer required many stations to move from VHF to UHF frequencies, which often meant a change in signal strength, the News said.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/11/27/TV-switchover-leaves-some-viewers-out/UPI-67231259367421/