Emergency Broadcast Question

[HeyManThatsCool]

Tell me if you think this is weird--- and also tell me if this happened where you live today.

I live in PA, right outside of Philadelphia. Today I was watching TV and first on QVC there was an Emergency Broadcast test..... then on NBC about 20 min later... then on CBS 10 min after that.... then on ABC about 5 min after that. I have NEVER ever seen that happen on one day.
Anyone else think thats odd? Should I get my tin foil hat?


:tinfoilhat:

[MissB]

1. See LBN for a possible dirty bomb in Boston.

Connection? :shrug:

[MadHound]

2. Probably just a coincidence

The EBS system has certain times of the month that it broadcasts a test tone in a given area. It was probably just that time of the month for test to be done. And since tommorrow is a big day, all of the stations decided to do their test to make sure that all systems are go.

[mvd]

3. I think there's a time frame that..

they have to do it in. The cable system has their own tests separate from the networks.

[HeyManThatsCool]

4. Glad to hear that

it was the 1st time in my life I could ever recall seeing them all go off at roughly the same time

[Liberal In Texas]

5. No, it's not odd.

Stations are notified (I can't remember the exact method) at their Master Controls and normally have to air the test within one hour of the notification.
Multiple notifications at multiple stations in the same market wouldn't be that unusual.

[bbernardini]

6. My wife works for QVC...I'll ask her.

[guitar man]

7. not odd

we get weekly and monthly tests. The monthly tests must be aired within one hour of the time received. Usually, we will wait until we are out of commercial breaks and back to the program to air them.