Will my TV stop working in Flint-Saginaw-Bay City?
Flint-Saginaw-Bay City · market #70 of 210
Not yet — but your market has already started the switch.
- Stations already on NextGen TV (3.0)
- 5 of 8
- since March 15, 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 Flint-Saginaw-Bay City is still sending a signal your current antenna TV can receive. One station (WBSF) 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 Flint-Saginaw-Bay City
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | WNEM-TV Bay City, MI | 5.1 (CBS); 5.2 (MyNetwork); 5.3 (Cozi); 5.4 (Ion) | On 3.0 via WBSF · since March 15, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 12 | WJRT-TV Flint, MI | ABC(D1), MeTV(D2), Catchy Comedy (D3), Start TV (D4), Heroes & Icons (D5), Bounce (D6), This TV/MeTV Toons (D7) | On 3.0 via WBSF · since March 15, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 14 | WCMU-TV Mount Pleasant, MI | PBS | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 25 | WEYI-TV Saginaw, MI | NBC | On 3.0 via WBSF · since March 15, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 35 | WDCQ-TV Bad Axe, MI | PBS | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 46 | WBSF Bay City, MI | The CW network | 3.0 host since March 15, 2022 | Moved to another station |
| 49 | WAQP Saginaw, MI | Independent | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 66 | WSMH Flint, MI | FOX | On 3.0 via WBSF · since March 15, 2022 | Still on the air |
3 low-power stations in this market (not covered by the proposed shutoff rules)
- WXON-LD
- WKNX-LD
- W27ET-D
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.