Take a look at
http://www.rabbitears.info/market.ph...n=KSPR#station
You will find the ABC affiliate, KSPR shows up on your TV as channel 33-1 (This is the 'Virtual Channel') For day to day viewing, you don't need to know or care that the signal is broadcast on real channel 19. Only when we're sorting out what type antenna is needed do we need to know about the real channel.
Also transported in the bandwidth of real channel 19, is "The Ozarks' CW" which will show up on your TV as channel 33-2 (again, a virtual channel number).
Another example; KYTV will appear as channel 3-1. After you have the correct antenna selected and installed, you won't need to remember that their signal is actually broadcast over the air on real channel 44. There will also be a channel 3-2 according to rabbitears.info which carries weather programming (24/7???).
As you search though the information at rabbitears.info, you'll see that some broadcasters carry only one program, others carry three or even four. Here in the Seattle area, one station transmits five programs in one real channel.
When you set your TV up to use the antenna, you will need to use the set-up menu of the TV (or converter box if your TV is an analog only set). From the setup menu, you'll need to configure the tuner to use 'Antenna' or 'Air' mode, not 'Cable' mode. Then you'll need to let the tuner scan for channels. The TV or converter box will 'learn' the virtual channel numbers automatically, from information that is sent by the TV station along with the picture and sound data.
After you've done it, you'll probably be the neighborhood expert that everyone calls on for help as they 'ditch' cable and satellite.
