Will my TV stop working in Roanoke-Lynchburg?
Roanoke-Lynchburg · market #67 of 210
Not yet — but your market has already started the switch.
- Stations already on NextGen TV (3.0)
- 6 of 9
- since September 27, 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 Roanoke-Lynchburg is still sending a signal your current antenna TV can receive. One station (WZBJ-CD) 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 Roanoke-Lynchburg
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | WZBJ-CD Lynchburg, VA · Class A | MyNetwork, COZI, Catchy Comedy | 3.0 host since September 27, 2022 | Moved to another station |
| 7 | WDBJ Roanoke, VA | CBS, H&I, True Crime Network | On 3.0 via WZBJ-CD · since September 27, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 10 | WSLS-TV Roanoke, VA | NBC | On 3.0 via WZBJ-CD · since September 27, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 13 | WSET-TV Lynchburg, VA | ABC | On 3.0 via WZBJ-CD · since September 27, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 15 | WBRA-TV Roanoke, VA | PBS | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 21 | WWCW Lynchburg, VA | CW | On 3.0 via WZBJ-CD · since September 27, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 24 | WZBJ Danville, VA | MyNetwork, DABL | On 3.0 via WZBJ-CD · since September 27, 2022 | Still on the air |
| 27 | WFXR Roanoke, VA | FOX | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 38 | WPXR-TV Roanoke, VA | ION Court TV Laff Mystery IONPlus Busted Game Show Central HSN QVC | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
3 low-power stations in this market (not covered by the proposed shutoff rules)
- WMDV-LD (23)
- W32EW-D
- W18FB-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.