Will my TV stop working in Albany-Schenectady-Troy?
Albany-Schenectady-Troy · market #58 of 210
Not yet — but your market has already started the switch.
- Stations already on NextGen TV (3.0)
- 5 of 10
- since March 24, 2022
- Proposed shutoff of old (1.0) signals
- February 2030
- Wave 2 · NAB proposal, not yet adopted by the FCC
- Earliest the rules could change
- July 2027
- Current FCC rule keeps 1.0 simulcasts through July 17, 2027
What this means today: every full-power station in Albany-Schenectady-Troy is still sending a signal your current antenna TV can receive. One station (WCWN) has become a NextGen TV “host,” so its old-format programming now comes from a different station’s signal — rescanning your TV picks it up.
What’s coming: broadcasters have asked the FCC to let stations in the smaller markets switch off old-format signals starting February 2030. If that happens, TVs without an ATSC 3.0 tuner will need a converter box to keep receiving these channels. The FCC is expected to decide by the end of 2026.
Every station in Albany-Schenectady-Troy
“On 3.0” means the station’s programming is available in NextGen TV format. “3.0 host” means the station’s transmitter carries the new format only, and its old-format programming moved to another station’s signal (rescan to find it). Source: FCC licensing records.
| Ch. | Station | Network | NextGen TV | Old (1.0) signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | WNCE-CD Glens Falls, NY · Class A | YTA | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| — | WFNY-CD Gloversville, NY · Class A | Independent | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 6 | WRGB Schenectady, NY | CBS | On 3.0 via WCWN · since March 24, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 10 | WTEN Albany, NY | ABC | On 3.0 via WCWN · since March 24, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 13 | WNYT Albany, NY | NBC | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 17 | WMHT Schenectady, NY | PBS | On 3.0 via WCWN · since March 24, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 23 | WXXA-TV Albany, NY | FOX | On 3.0 via WCWN · since March 24, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 45 | WCWN Schenectady, NY | CW | 3.0 host since March 24, 2022 | Moved to another station |
| 51 | WNYA Pittsfield, MA | My Network | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 55 | WYPX-TV Amsterdam, NY | ION | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
2 low-power stations in this market (not covered by the proposed shutoff rules)
- WZPJ-LD (4)
- WNGX-LD
What to do now
- Rescan your TV. If a channel disappeared recently, it probably moved to a host station’s signal. Settings → Channels → Auto scan.
- Find out if your TV already has a 3.0 tuner. Use the tuner check. If it does, you’re done.
- Don’t buy a converter box yet unless you want 3.0 features now. Prices are falling and the FCC hasn’t set a date. We’ll tell you when it’s time.