In telecommunications, a logical channel number (LCN), also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual channel (or range of frequencies) on which the signal travels. The most common reason for a television station using a virtual channel is to minimize viewer confusion when a digital transmission is airing on a different channel from the one the station used in analog mode. The virtual channel thus enables viewers to tune in the station by choosing the same channel number as they would have previously.