Starting Wednesday, viewers who watch TV with an antenna will need to rescan their channels due to an auction held by the Federal Communications Commission. More than 1,000 TV stations must move frequencies to make room for wireless internet carriers.
No new equipment purchases are needed and the steps for rescanning channels are simple: select “scan” or “autotune” from your TV or converter box control menu to start the process. More instructions can be found on the “set-up” or “menu” buttons on the remote.
Viewers who subscribe to cable or satellite television will not have to rescan their TVs manually. Their service providers will do the scan for them.
Steve Gardner, spokesperson for TVAnswers, said there isn’t a deadline for when the channels should be rescanned, but stressed the importance so that your TV can find the channel after the frequency changes.
Channel scans are broken into 10 phases and will happen over the next two years. The following Charlotte market stations will rescan on the following dates:
Rescan Day: June 6, 2018
Station: WMYT-TV – My Network TV 55
This channel has two rescan dates. The first rescan will take place on June 6, 2018. Stay tuned to this channel for the second rescan date.
Timeframe: Phase 5: Aug. 3, 2019 – Sept. 6, 2019
Station: W21CK-D – Independent 15
Station: WAXN-TV – Independent 64
Station: WCCB – CW Television Network 18
Station: WCNC-TV – NBC 36
Station: WGTB-CD – The Walk TV 28
Station: WHKY-TV – Independent 14
Station: WJZY – FOX 46
Station: WSOC-TV – ABC 9
Station: WNSC-TV – Public Television 30
Station: WUNG-TV – Public Television 58
Station: WUNE-TV – PBS Explorer Network 17
Timeframe: Phase 10: May 2-July 3, 2020
Station: WTVI – Public Television 42