Will my TV stop working in Richmond-Petersburg?
Richmond-Petersburg · market #57 of 210
Not yet — but your market has already started the switch.
- Stations already on NextGen TV (3.0)
- 6 of 7
- since April 11, 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 Richmond-Petersburg is still sending a signal your current antenna TV can receive. 2 stations (WCVW, WUPV) have 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 Richmond-Petersburg
“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 | WTVR-TV Richmond, VA | CBS | On 3.0 via WUPV · since April 11, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 8 | WRIC-TV Petersburg, VA | ABC | On 3.0 via WUPV · since April 11, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 12 | WWBT Richmond, VA | NBC | On 3.0 via WUPV · since April 11, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 23 | WCVE-TV Richmond, VA | PBS | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 35 | WRLH-TV Richmond, VA | Fox | On 3.0 via WUPV · since April 11, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 57 | WCVW Richmond, VA | PBS | 3.0 host since April 11, 2022 | Moved to another station |
| 65 | WUPV Ashland, VA | CW | 3.0 host since April 11, 2022 | Moved to another station |
5 low-power stations in this market (not covered by the proposed shutoff rules)
- WUDW-LD (53)
- WRID-LD
- WZTD-LD
- WFWG-LD
- WWBK-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.