WASHINGTON, Feb 11: Nearly 700 US television stations plan to end analogue broadcasts next week, despite a decision by the Congress to push back the switch to digital-only service until June.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in a public notice posted on its website fcc.gov on Tuesday listed 681 television stations which plan to end analogue signal broadcasts on Feb 17.

There are some 1,800 television stations in the United States. Major TV networks such as ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC are not among those planning to cut off their analogue broadcasts next week.

Feb 17 was the date set for the nationwide shift to digital-only television, but Congress last week extended the date until June 12. Stations which notified the FCC by Monday of plans to end analogue service next week will be allowed to do so.—AFP