Will my TV stop working in Portland-Auburn?
Portland-Auburn · market #80 of 210
Not yet — but your market has already started the switch.
- Stations already on NextGen TV (3.0)
- 5 of 8
- since April 25, 2024
- 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 Portland-Auburn is still sending a signal your current antenna TV can receive. One station (WPFO) 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 Portland-Auburn
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | WCSH Portland, ME | NBC | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 8 | WMTW Poland Spring, ME | ABC | On 3.0 via WPFO · since April 25, 2024 | Still on the air |
| 10 | WCBB Augusta, ME | PBS | On 3.0 via WPFO · since April 25, 2024 | Still on the air |
| 13 | WGME-TV Portland, ME | CBS | On 3.0 via WPFO · since April 25, 2024 | Still on the air |
| 23 | WPFO Waterville, ME | FOX | 3.0 host since April 25, 2024 | Moved to another station |
| 26 | WMEA-TV Biddeford, ME | PBS | On 3.0 via WPFO · since April 25, 2024 | Still on the air |
| 35 | WIPL Lewiston, ME | ION Court TV Bounce Grit IONPlus Busted Game Show Central HSN QVC2 | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 51 | WPXT Portland, ME | Maine's CW | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
1 low-power stations in this market (not covered by the proposed shutoff rules)
- WFYW-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.