The spring DST follies are off to an early start. The scheduled data for the change is 12 March so nothing should happen until the 13th. But no less than three stations jumped the gun and changed their data on 11 February. (For anyone that wants to see the previous versions of this page, the Internet Archive should have it.)
Each plot shows the values for DS_status (1 means in daylight savings time), DS_day_of_month, and DS_hour for the previous day and current (at time plot was made) day.
Three stations started early at 2AM today:
WFAA (RF 8)
KERA (RF 14)
KPXD (RF 42)
Too many stations decide to get ahead of the rush tommorrow.
KTVT (RF 19)
KMPX (RF 30)
KDFI (RF 36)
KAZD (RF 39)
KTXD (RF 46)
Although some stations are trying to work around the problem by setting DS_day_of_month to the wrong value. I can only assume that while they can't control the day their PSIP generator starts the transition they can control the data it sends. Which seems pretty stupid. You would think after all this time the makers of PSIP generators (Triveni is one) could do something as simple as keep accurate time.
KDFW (RF 35)
KXAS (RF 41)
KDTN (RF 43)
Fortunately eight stations saying today is the day of the transition wasn't quite enough to send my Dish DTVpal DVR over the edge and (so far) it is displaying the correct time. (I am currently seeing time data from 22 stations.)
The number of stations changing their DST data today like they should is distressingly small, 2:
KFWD (RF 9)
KJJM (RF 34)
After setting DS_day_of_month to 2 yesterday, one station switched to the correct value today:
KDTN (RF 43)
I used the web forms of the three stations that started the transition two days early to contact them. Much to my surprise all three responded. One plead ignorance of what happened Saturday because nobody was around monitoring and besides, it all looked good now. The second was from someone styling themselves as the Chief Engineer but demonstrating a profound ignorance of the ATSC standard regarding DST. He claimed that they had changed nothing Saturday and would change nothing until 12 March. Only the third indicated that they would look into it. (Stations names redacted to protect, I am not sure what.)
I responded to both in the hope that I could convince them that they were failing to meet the requirements in the standard. I have very low expectations.
Another station joined the crowd. Late, but at least they weren't early.
KDAF (RF 32)
One more station joins in late today:
KSTR (RF 48)
That leaves a handful of stations that have yet to do anything and two that are still claiming the transition is on the 2nd.
One station set their DST transition data today.
KTXA (RF 29)
KDFW and KXAS (Fox and NBC affiliates) either don't care or are simply unable to correct their DST data. (They have been saying that the day of the transition isthe 2nd since 12 Feb.) You would think that they would notice today but no, the didn't. Contacting them didn't do anything either. Prior to my contacting them via their web forms you could have made the case that they were simply ignorant of the problem.
Very late out of the gate is KDTX who finally set their DST data less than 48 hours before the transition.
KDTX (RF 45)
The standard requires that DS_status change to 1 (in DST) once all parts of the broadcast area have transitioned. Since DFW is deep in the heart of the Central time zone, everyone should do this at 2AM (CST). Naturally they didn't.
Some stations got it correct: KERA, KJJM, KDFI, KPXD, WFAA, and KFWD. (Time in these example plots is CST.)
KERA (RF 14)
Others did it an hour late: KTVT, KTXA, KMPX, KAZD, KDTN, KTXD, and KSTR.
KTVT (RF 19)
In a special category we have KDFW who while sending data stating that the transition was on the 2nd of the month, performed it at 2AM. Followed by KXAS at 3AM. I am reminded of a line from an old Firesign Theatre bit about a little chromioum switch.
KDFW (RF 35)
Then there is the category of haven't done it yet: KDAF and KDTX. Plus of course the stations that ignored it completely: KUVN, KXTX, and KATA. (Ignoring stations that don't even bother to send a system time table packet at all.
Only two stations correctly followed the ATSC A/65 Daylight Savings Time transition standard: KFWD and KJJM. But they lose points for failing to meet the accurate time requirements of that standard.