Post by mrjamie on Dec 17, 2008 10:16:23 GMT -6
WVUE-Channel 8 has moved from the back to the front of the local pack in making the move from analog to digital TV broadcasting.
In 2003, the station faced censure from the Federal Communications Commission for not having a digital signal on the air.
Monday morning, the local Fox affiliate went all-digital, throwing a switch to cut off its over-the-air analog signal so work could begin on upgrading its transmitter to digital.
Results, reported general manager Joe Cook, were more positive than expected.
"So far, it's light," Cook said midday Monday about viewer calls. "Amazingly light."
The national DTV transition day, Feb. 17, is when other stations will have to pull the plug and cut off all viewers who aren't watching via cable, satellite, a digital-capable TV set with antenna or an analog TV set that's been retrofitted with a set-top DTV converter box.
That's only a small percentage of viewers, who for months have been bombarded with on-air promos and crawls warning them of the date and their need to take action.
Airwaves-only viewers who want to still use their analog set will have to obtain and install a set-top converter box. A federal program offers money-off coupons to assist in the transition.
Many Web sites -- including www.dtv.gov, www.dtv2009.gov, www.dtvtransition.org and www.getreadyfordigitaltv.com -- explain the meaning of Feb. 17. So does this toll-free phone hotline: 888.388.2009.
Cook said that the station heard from a few airwaves-only viewers who had prepared for Monday -- by buying a digital TV or converter box -- but couldn't find WVUE's digital signal.
It's Channel 29, though most TVs and converter boxes can search for it automatically, then assign it a channel number related to the familiar analog channel position. My TV calls the main WVUE digital signal Channel 8.01.
Further confusion may arise in about a week, when WVUE finishes converting its analog transmitter to digital, then moves its primary digital signal back to Channel 8.
Cook said that the No. 1 complaint from viewers about the transition so far is the informational "crawl" announcing the switch, especially among perturbed viewers in the vast majority who won't be affected by it.
Even though WVUE is now all-digital, the station will continue the public-service-style on-screen messages through the transition.
The apparent success of WVUE's early analog turn-off bodes well for other stations in town as they approach Feb. 17, Cook said.
"We are the hard test for everybody," Cook said. "I think it's good news for every station.
"Maybe the nightmare we all expect for February won't be such a nightmare."
blog.nola.com/davewalker/2008/12/wvue_drops_analog_signal_early.html
In 2003, the station faced censure from the Federal Communications Commission for not having a digital signal on the air.
Monday morning, the local Fox affiliate went all-digital, throwing a switch to cut off its over-the-air analog signal so work could begin on upgrading its transmitter to digital.
Results, reported general manager Joe Cook, were more positive than expected.
"So far, it's light," Cook said midday Monday about viewer calls. "Amazingly light."
The national DTV transition day, Feb. 17, is when other stations will have to pull the plug and cut off all viewers who aren't watching via cable, satellite, a digital-capable TV set with antenna or an analog TV set that's been retrofitted with a set-top DTV converter box.
That's only a small percentage of viewers, who for months have been bombarded with on-air promos and crawls warning them of the date and their need to take action.
Airwaves-only viewers who want to still use their analog set will have to obtain and install a set-top converter box. A federal program offers money-off coupons to assist in the transition.
Many Web sites -- including www.dtv.gov, www.dtv2009.gov, www.dtvtransition.org and www.getreadyfordigitaltv.com -- explain the meaning of Feb. 17. So does this toll-free phone hotline: 888.388.2009.
Cook said that the station heard from a few airwaves-only viewers who had prepared for Monday -- by buying a digital TV or converter box -- but couldn't find WVUE's digital signal.
It's Channel 29, though most TVs and converter boxes can search for it automatically, then assign it a channel number related to the familiar analog channel position. My TV calls the main WVUE digital signal Channel 8.01.
Further confusion may arise in about a week, when WVUE finishes converting its analog transmitter to digital, then moves its primary digital signal back to Channel 8.
Cook said that the No. 1 complaint from viewers about the transition so far is the informational "crawl" announcing the switch, especially among perturbed viewers in the vast majority who won't be affected by it.
Even though WVUE is now all-digital, the station will continue the public-service-style on-screen messages through the transition.
The apparent success of WVUE's early analog turn-off bodes well for other stations in town as they approach Feb. 17, Cook said.
"We are the hard test for everybody," Cook said. "I think it's good news for every station.
"Maybe the nightmare we all expect for February won't be such a nightmare."
blog.nola.com/davewalker/2008/12/wvue_drops_analog_signal_early.html
