Local News Provides Lifeline to Those Looking for Local Answers
Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neill famously quipped, “All politics is local.” At this uncertain time when all of America is grappling with the new COVID-19 reality, millions continue to rely on their local TV stations for news and updates on how the virus is affecting their local communities. Just like politics, there are national events and activities that shape our nation, but what really matters most to people is how the politics – and in this case the virus – is hitting close to home.
Nearly a third of U.S. adults (31%) follow local news very closely, according to research from the Pew Research Center for Journalism and Media which surveyed 35,000 people. According to the research, television remains the most common place for Americans to get their news, with local TV outpacing cable and network TV. In addition, the survey found that the vast majority of Americans who get news from local TV stations primarily do so the traditional way: from the television set (76%), not from the stations’ websites or social media accounts (22%).
Local TV stations have always been a constant, in good times and bad. Those of us who are older will never forget when Walter Cronkite interrupted daytime soap Days of Our Lives to announce the assassination of John F. Kennedy, choking back tears as he brought us to a new reality. And when 9-11 happened, we were inundated with national breaking news as well as around-the-clock local broadcast news that put the events into perspective and provided important updates on how the tragedy was affecting our own communities.
Now more than ever, we need our local TV lifelines to keep us informed about what we need to know and do regarding COVID-19. While many get their local stations through cable and satellite providers, more than 72 million Americans rely on an antenna to access free, over-the-air TV channels. If you’re one of those, or who know someone who is, you may need to make a #PlanToRescan to ensure you continue getting your local channels.
By law, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is requiring nearly 1,000 TV stations to change frequencies to make room for wireless services. That means viewers who use an antenna must perform a TV rescan after their local station makes the change. Already 85 percent of the stations have transitioned, with only a couple hundred left to go.
However, in light of recent events, some stations may delay their upcoming transition to avoid any interruption in service and continue providing critical COVID-19 information to keep communities safe. For stations, the ability of their viewers to receive important local news and alerts, not to mention entertainment for the millions who are staying in and watching more TV, is paramount. As always, and especially in times of national crisis, local stations’ first priority is their viewers’ safety and well-being.
To ensure you continue receiving all your local channels, you can enter a zip code here and find out if and when your local stations are set to transition. You can also sign up for text and email alerts so that you are notified any time a TV transition takes place in your area – or in an area in which a loved one lives. Take a moment to ask family members, especially those who are elderly, if they use an antenna so that you can guide them through the TV rescan process. TVAnswers.org is here to help you stay up to date and provide simple instructions for rescanning.
Stay tuned to stay safe.