MUSCATINE, Iowa — Most homes in MPW Cable’s service area will not lose the CW Network when KGCW-TV switches off its analog signal at noon today.

But residents in about 1,500 homes without cable or satellite service could experience an “eye opening” when the channel is missing, said Terry Curry, manager of marketing and sales at Muscatine Power & Water.

Earlier this month, Congress extended until June 12 the deadline for TV stations to shut down analog broadcasts, hoping to give viewers more time to prepare.

Money has run out for the federal fund that subsidizes converter boxes, and there is a waiting list for the coupons.

The delay sent TV stations scrambling to figure out when to shut down analog. Most had planned to do it today, the original deadline.

Curry said all networks carried by MPW Cable, except the CW, have indicated they plan to wait.

But “it’s very fluid right now,” said Dave Fyffe, MPW’s manager of communication.

June 12 is a deadline to shut down the analog signal, he said.

“They don’t have to wait until June before they do that; they can do that at anytime,” Fyffe said.

Digital TVs or TVs connected to a digital converter box will not be affected by the analog shutdown.

MPW JUMP

The shutdown also will not affect TVs connected to cable or satellite services

“You’ll continue to receive it tomorrow just like you always have,” Curry said.

Fyffe said customers might have to run an autoscan on their television to tune it to the station’s new channel.

The transition to digital TV was mandated by the Federal Communications Commission because digital signals are more efficient than analog ones. Ending analog broadcasts will free up valuable space in the nation’s airwaves for commercial wireless services and emergency-response networks.

Curry said MPW Cable will convert to  digital broadcasts of basic cable channels two through 24 for the remainder of this year.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.