ALBANY — After nearly two years of anticipation, WALB, along with many other local TV stations, will permanently terminate its analog signal on Friday.

Just after midnight on Thursday, WALB is scheduled to shut down its analog transmitter. At that time, a team of WALB engineers will begin the process of transferring the digital signal from UHF channel 17 to VHF channel 10. If things go as planned, the digital signal should be back on the air on channel 10 by 3 a.m. on Friday.

According to WALB General Manager Jim Wilcox, up to that time, anyone watching the digital signal was receiving it on UHF channel 17 (even though it may have displayed it as channel 10.1). After the switch on Friday morning, digital tuners and converter boxes will need to receive the digital signal on channel 10.

“We are one of a few stations that are actually changing frequencies at the same time that we shut down the analog signal,” said Wilcox. “That’s why, for all antenna viewers, it is essential that they remember to perform a channel re-scan function on their converter boxes or digital receivers as soon as they can after the transition.”

WALB has established a local DTV hotline. Viewers who have digital signal problems after the switch should call WALB’s main number at (229) 446-1010.

Antenna viewers still watching analog TVs will need a digital converter box connected to a VHF/UHF combo antenna pointed at the WALB transmitter site located in Doerun. Digital converter boxes are available at many electronic retailers. Government discount coupons are available worth $40 toward the cost of a converter box. Viewers can apply for coupons by calling (888) 388-2009.

Cable and satellite viewers should not be affected. Cable and satellite providers are supposed to convert the digital signals so that analog TVs can display it. Some cable systems may have to make technical adjustments in order to receive the WALB digital signal on channel 10, instead of channel 17. As a result, there could be a short time during the day on Friday where cable service could be interrupted. If this happens, viewers should contact their provider to see when they expect service to be restored.