Missing TV channels over the air? Rescan needed after some California stations change frequencies

Northern California viewers who receive television over the air using a digital antenna will need to “rescan” their devices in order to keep watching local programming and receive emergency alerts.

The National Association of Broadcasters says the Federal Communications Commission this week required nearly 1,000 TV stations across the nation to change frequencies in order to provide more room on the radio spectrum for wireless broadband services.

Since several channels will have new frequencies, it requires users to reprogram their televisions provided they only receive over-the-air signals. If you watch TV via cable or satellite, don’t worry about it. You don’t have to do a thing.

In the Sacramento market, which also covers Stockton and Modesto, several stations will be missing for viewers without the so-called rescan. They include Fox40 (KTXL), My58 (KQCA), Ion Television’s Channel 29 (KSPX) and CW31 (KMAX), which airs “Good Day Sacramento.”

The station’s various subchannels — like Antenna TV and Court TV on KTXL’s subchannels; Laff, Comet, Stadium and Circle carried by KMAX and Heroes and Icons and Estrella TV carried on KQCA — are also affected by the move.

Bay Area television stations — which reach from San Francisco east to Solano County, south to San Jose and Monterey and as far north as Santa Rosa and the mountain communities of Napa and Lake counties — also had several frequency changes. They include NBC Bay Area (KNTV, Channel 11); KRON (Channel 4); KGO, the ABC affiliate on Channel 7; CW44 (KBCW), Telemundo (KSTS, Channel 48) and the North Bay’s PBS station (KRCB, Channel 22).

How to rescan your TV

The broadcasters association says the process is simple, and can be done using a television’s remote control. So, how do you rescan a TV?

▪ Press the “menu” or “set-up” button on your remote control and follow the on-screen instructions.

▪ Or select “scan” or “autotune” from your TV or converter box control menu.

▪ The TV will do the rest in only a few minutes.

To find out more information, go to tvanswers.org/rescan.asp for instruction for specific brands or visit fcc.gov/TVrescan. You can also call the FCC at 888-225-5322 and press 6 when prompted.

And because there may be more than one TV rescan required in each city, antenna owners can be notified when future rescans are required by signing up to receive free email and text alerts at tvanswers.org/signup.