<P> A sign - on (or start - up) is the beginning of operations for a radio or television station, generally at the start of each day . It is the opposite of a sign - off (or closedown), which is the sequence of operations involved when a radio or television station shuts down its transmitters and goes off the air for a predetermined period; generally, this occurs during the overnight hours . </P> <P> Sign - ons, like sign - offs, vary from country to country, from station to station, and from time to time; however, most follow a similar general pattern . Many stations follow the reverse process to their sign - off sequence at the close of the day . It is common for sign - ons to be followed by a network's early morning newscast, or their morning or breakfast show . </P> <P> While both sign - ons and sign - offs have become less common with the increasing prevalence of twenty - four - hour - a-day, seven - day - a-week broadcasting, they are still conducted by a number of stations around the world . For broadcasters that do still close for a period each day, this station close is most often during the early hours of the morning, with the daily sign - on typically occurring between 5: 00 a.m. and 7: 00 a.m. However, in some countries with more limited broadcast coverage, such as North Korea, sign - on may be as late as 5: 00 p.m. A particular type of AM radio station known as a daytimer usually only operates during daytime hours, and will therefore run a sign - on sequence each day . </P> <P> The sign - on sequence may include some or all of the following stages, but not necessarily in this order: </P>

When did tv stop going off the air
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