wvan-tv's temporary digital signal on channel 13 was activated in 2000, making it one of the first for gpb tv. the station discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over vhf channel 9, at midnight on february 17, 2009. this was the original deadline for the federal mandate requiring full-power television stations in the united states to transition from analog to digital broadcasts. (the deadline was ultimately extended until june 12, 2009.) the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition vhf channel 13 to channel 9; requiring viewers to re-scan atsc tuners to find the station's channels again. gpb did the same with at least two other stations.