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Local TV stations going ahead with digital switch
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
DAYTON — Despite last-minute maneuvering by Congress, three local television stations still plan to cease analog broadcasts after Feb. 17 as previously announced.
Managers for WHIO-TV (Channel 7), WKEF-TV (Channel 22) and WRGT-TV (Channel 45) said they will switch to a digital signal even though Congress has voted to delay the transition until June 12. WDTN-TV (Channel 2) and ThinkTV (Channels 14 and 16) have not announced a date for changing their signals.
"In order to broadcast our digital television signal to serve our entire viewing area, we must remove our analog transmitter and antenna from our tower and move our new permanent digital antenna into its place," said Harry Delaney, vice president and general manager of WHIO-TV (Channel 7).
Dean Ditmer, general manager for WKEF-TV (Channel 22) and WRGT-TV (Channel 45), said those stations will also eliminate analog broadcasting after Feb. 17, the original transition date.
The House voted to push back the date to June 12. The Senate had approved the delay, which now goes to President Obama for his signature.
The bill's passage "means that millions of Americans will have the time they need to prepare for the conversion," the White House said.Supporters of the delay said keeping the Feb. 17 date would have left millions of unprepared U.S. households with blacked-out TV sets.
But critics contend the new date is unneeded and altering the long-expected deadline will confuse consumers while harming broadcasters and emergency responders.
The digital transition is intended to offer improved television picture and sound quality while freeing up radio airwaves for wireless broadband services and public safety communications.
Cable and satellite TV service and newer TVs with digital over-the-air tuners are unaffected by the change, but some estimates put the number of unprepared households with older sets at more than 6 million.
Consumer groups praised the delay, saying the extra time should be used to fix a government program that provides $40 coupons for converter boxes that let older analog TVs receive digital signals. That program hit a $1.34 billion limit last month.
Converter boxes typically cost $40 to $80.
More than 2 million U.S. households are on the coupon waiting list, a number expected to grow to 3 million by Feb. 17, according to the House Commerce Committee.
WHIO-TV has been operating with a temporary digital antenna in anticipation of the required digital conversion. In the 1990s, Congress determined that broadcast stations must transition from analog to digital. In February 2006, Congress established a hard transition date of Feb. 17, 2009.
According to Delaney, the transmitter work requires specialized crews who have firm schedules to perform similar work across the country.
"Keeping to the strict schedule already in place is the only way to guarantee that WHIO-TV can begin serving our entire community with digital broadcasting as intended in 2009," Delaney said.
To assist viewers who have not yet converted to digital, the station will participate in the Federal Communications Commission's Nightlight Program. From Feb. 18 to Feb. 28, the station will continuously broadcast information about the transition, as well as emergency information such as severe weather alerts, on its analog channel. No other programming will be broadcast on analog Channel 7.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2057 or lgrieco@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By sarah
November 27, 2009 6:36 PM | Link to this
here it is end of nov. the channel is blacked out altogether. cant get anything. now what.
By INGERMAN TUTK
June 24, 2009 8:22 PM | Link to this
IT ASK FOR EMAIL TV IS MESSED UP NO SIGNAL SOME OF THE TIME
By Captain Nemo
February 9, 2009 4:53 PM | Link to this
I suggest self-reliance. Let them make the digital change whenever they feel like it. I have cable, so I’m ready. But even if I didn’t, I get most of my news and weather info from the radio, Internet, newspapers, etc. I don’t watch most of the programmed crap on TV anyway. Instead, I have a well stocked library of my favorite DVDs and video tapes and can watch my favorite movies, TV shows, music videos, cartoons, etc. anytime I want. Delays only empower the weak-minded. Drop the nukes, already.
By ecp3886
February 7, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this
So Obama signs the converter delay bill. When June gets here. Those same people, still will not be ready. Some people are just to lazy. I am against the delay. It is politics. THe republicans will get their way on this. Why don’t the repulicans extend the Tax deadline. Move it from April to June. That is politics for you. Delay, delay, delay. The stimulus money will be delayed to. Just watch the news.
By RM25483
February 6, 2009 7:56 AM | Link to this
Tom, I think you took the exact opposite of when I said, “the savings in power costs after the switch will easily make up for those A/D changes.” In other words, the power consumption for a ditgital-only broadcast will be much less than half; the moneys saved during that time will more than make up or the cost of buying the digital equipment. I thought I was clear previously.
By Tom
February 5, 2009 9:32 PM | Link to this
RM25483, I do not think you realize how much power an analog or digital broadcast transmitter uses. When the stations shut down their analog transmitters their power bill for the transmitters will be cut almost in half. DUH!
By AF
February 5, 2009 5:25 PM | Link to this
I’ve been using a digital receiver for 4 years now with Satelite.
Analog? What is that.
By Carolyn
February 5, 2009 5:22 PM | Link to this
I don’t understand the reason for delaying the conversion to digital TV. I realize they’re saying it will give people more time to prepare. What makes anyone think that if they haven’t been able to prepare in almost 2 years with the constant reminders on television all that time, that another 5 or 6 months will help? Those that haven’t gotten the message since 2007 apparently do not have a TV in the first place, so what’s the difference? What will happen in June….move it to February 17, 2010?
By AliveUD
February 5, 2009 4:54 PM | Link to this
Well, perhaps those of you who cannot figure out this simple task should take this opportunity to NOT upgrade your TV and instead stop watching TV. Go do something else; maybe you can learn how to solve simple tasks like hooking up a converter box or learn terms like “expiration date” and “available on a first-come, first-served basis.”
By Mad
February 5, 2009 12:18 PM | Link to this
It’s all a mess.
I have 3 older TV’s and no cable or satellite service.
Got my two $40 coupons last year but nobody had the boxes.
Now the coupons are no good and they won’t reissue them, now that the boxes are available.
Then, even with the delay, most of our local stations just say you’re just SOL!
Won’t be patronizing any of their advertizers in the future!
The converter boxes ‘should’ run about $10, but since the government will pay $40… it’s a mess!
By Warren Wallace
February 5, 2009 12:17 PM | Link to this
Ok the TV from Wal-Mart just seen the receipt, was $299 on sell and after the coupon it was $259+TAX. A SANYO 26” MN: DP26648. Her old TV is a SHARP MN: 19KP15 MD: July 1985 (will be on Craigslist for FREE). She told me to tell you all to “KISS MY A**”. lol
By amy
February 5, 2009 11:48 AM | Link to this
Chuck, why didn’t you include your last name “Eastman” and let us know that your the CE from WHIO ? :-)
By amy
February 5, 2009 11:45 AM | Link to this
Warren, no one bought a TV with their gov’t coupon. It doesn’t work that way… Try again.
By S
February 5, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this
Why do the responses here quickly degenerate into tired rabid partisan rhetoric? The converter program could have been set up to serve the people who would likely need it the most. Why offer everyone multiple coupons regardless of the household income? If it had been set up to target Social Security and unemployment recipients, disabled veterans, etc. on a first come, first served basis, a smaller number of coupons could have been allotted and the deadline would still be a deadline.
By RM25483
February 5, 2009 10:32 AM | Link to this
K, you are right about the folks who did not buy a converter box early on because they were told cable/sat receivers did not need one. Then they lost their jobs and cut their cable/sat service. It is for this reason I support (and have written my representative) additional funds for additional coupons for those folks (they passed $650M for exactly that purpose). Also, I am pushing for a removal of the expiration dates on the coupons. Money is easy, changing the deadline is dumb, however.
By RM25483
February 5, 2009 10:26 AM | Link to this
Warren, I am curious what model TV you’re referring to that does not accept a coaxial input. I have some old ones I’ve taken apart for which I used a coaxial-to-2wire splitter (it’s a very small broadband analog box with a coax-in and two screwhead c-wires out). I haven’t seen those in a while, but you can still hook up the D/A converter box to it just as you would hook up a modern set of rabbit ears with a coax output.
By Rich
February 5, 2009 10:20 AM | Link to this
Why does anyone think they can believe the gov’t. when the gov’t. says anything. Wise-up. Quit being so reliable on other people…take care of yourself. Instead of worrying about your television, you better be focusing on more important issues…like getting the crook crumb-bums out of politics.
By Samuel
February 5, 2009 10:00 AM | Link to this
I have a feeling that Warren Wallace is telling a made up story here. Considering that the Coupons can ONLY be used on CONVERTER BOXES not NEW TELEVISIONS. Considering that if this fictional old lady were buying a new television she would not need a converter box.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CECB
By Warren Wallace
February 5, 2009 9:44 AM | Link to this
My 85 year old neighbor took her $40 coupon and buys herself a new TV for about $250. Her old TV did not have a cable hookup (no remote control either) so the converter box would not work. She said “We should have done this years ago”. Now she has a lot more channels, cleaner picture and a REMOTE CONTROL. On a fixed income and no internet access, she was able to get the $40 coupon and buy a nice TV with no one holding her hand. I think its long over do and it has been planned for 7 years. Is your barack hussein obama going to pay the TV stations for canceled contracts? By the way the contractors need the work.
By Jeff
February 5, 2009 9:34 AM | Link to this
I love how people just make stuff up and post it on here. Painfultruth: More Republicans voted for the extension than Democrats did. Try actually reading things before you spew your lame rhetoric all over. Uncoolio: It is NOT taxpayer’s money paying for the coupons. The FCC sold the 700MHz spectrum for billions and is using that money to fund the program (you can thank Verizon for the coupons they bought the spectrum). Everyone else: You DO NOT need an HDTV. Digital is standard def AND high def!
By brunnegd
February 5, 2009 9:12 AM | Link to this
Make the switch. The converter boxes will fly off of the shelves!
By Carl
February 5, 2009 9:09 AM | Link to this
Why? The same people won’t be ready in June. Of corse by than the goverment will find away to put it off some more. We wouldn’t want anyone to be responsible for there own actions. Get used to it people this is what you are going to have for the next 8 years. Everyone looking for [and getting] a hand out. Everyone will be happy except for the poor slob who has a job and has to support this socialism.
By Ollie
February 5, 2009 9:06 AM | Link to this
I am digital ready with my new plasma TV. My, can’t wait for the cable company to raise my rates. The commercials are so much clearer. 50% of the screen time are commercials.
By K
February 5, 2009 9:00 AM | Link to this
I pay taxes, I still think the government should have given people a box since its the government doing the switchover.They auction off the airwaves, so they are making money off this.
By uncoolio
February 5, 2009 8:54 AM | Link to this
Why in the hell does the tax payers have to pay for free boxes to many who refuse to work in the first place. You could extend the deadline three years and these folks wouldn’t be ready. The new message from Washington is the government should be all thnings to all people—-so long as the American workforce pays for it. He Obama—how about giving me free TV service? Oh I forgot—-I have to work for it.
By K
February 5, 2009 8:43 AM | Link to this
Who said it was just minorities? White people lose their jobs too.
By ruth
February 5, 2009 8:36 AM | Link to this
the ones who aren’t ready, won’t be ready ubtil the government comes to their house and shows them how to turn on the tv, select the channel etc…why are we always at the mercy of the minorities???????
By K
February 5, 2009 8:33 AM | Link to this
Some people who didn’t have to rely on airwaves have now found themselves having to cut their cable and satellite because they can’t afford it, some of these people probably didn’t expect to lose their jobs, I’m just saying that things happen and sometimes at the wrong time.
By ecp3886
February 5, 2009 8:32 AM | Link to this
To the people who have not switched over after 2 years of warnings. You are reckless and arrogant slobs. Move on with the conversion Feb 17. If U are not ready. Tough. If people are suddenly without a picture. They will go out and buy the converter. At this time. Most are just to lazy to do anything.
By K
February 5, 2009 8:23 AM | Link to this
Also I do not stay home and watch TV all day, actually since I got my converter box I have gotten local channels that I had not gotten before with paid local channels thru satellite. I am out looking for a job that seems to be eluding me.
By Linda K. Martin
February 5, 2009 8:22 AM | Link to this
I live in Oklahoma and just took the OKNEWS online poll. the question was ‘do you agree with the decision to delay transfer to digital TV’ 82% voted NO, including me. I have to agree with your readers that if people aren’t ready by now after all the years of notice there is no way they’ll be ready in June. Good grief It’s time to start taking care of yourself and not wait for someone else to do it for you
By K
February 5, 2009 8:18 AM | Link to this
I think since its the government making everyone switch the boxes need to be free. Not everyone can afford a new digital TV. I lost my job and do not have Satellite anymore, can’t afford it. Sometimes we do not know what is in store for us. Maybe some people had satellite or cable before and can not now afford it.
By RM25483
February 5, 2009 8:05 AM | Link to this
Chuck, I think you’re missing some long-term economics here. Upgrading the transmitting equipment to Digital is not as expensive as you might think; and the savings in power costs after the switch will easily make up for those A/D changes. None of those stations are ‘forced’ to transmit Analog and Digital simultaneously. If they want to minimize costs, they can run Analog only and then switch to Digital only. It is their choice to spend more, and they can pass that cost to advertisers.
By Joe
February 5, 2009 7:55 AM | Link to this
We’ve been bombarded with information on the switch for over a year now, and those who aren’t “ready” are just plain lazy. I’m tired of the government protecting lazy morons who do nothing but sit on their fat butts watching TV anyway. You want your TV to work? Get up and do something about it yourself!
The digital transistion date has been on the books for three years! Press on!!
By mike
February 5, 2009 7:48 AM | Link to this
i just spent near 50.00 on a box and antenna at k-mart,evan after the 40.00 coupon.why did i do this?because ive been told for 2 years that eye better have one by the 17th.im on SSI.disibility,and get less than 800.00 month can can afford the cash to pay the cost of the box/antenna.so theres no damn excuses why people aint ready yet
By painfultruth
February 5, 2009 7:44 AM | Link to this
Just another move by socialist DEMOCRATS to appease the “poor” people by once again BUYING THEIR VOTES. Gimme, gimme, gimme. Why free converters anyway? With the plans in place for many years, everyone had ample time to get a converter. What’s next, Fidel Obama, sending a government employee to every poor persons house to change channels on their TV for them? Oh, but the “poooor” people can’t HELP THEMSELVES. Hey, maybe Obama will buy you a NEW TV!!!
By Rick
February 5, 2009 7:35 AM | Link to this
An analog transmitter costs as much as $10,000 in electricity each month.
New tubes for the transmitters typically cost $30,000 to $40,000 and many analog transmitters are on their last legs as nobody wants to invest money into something that is going to be scrapped.
We are talking about less than 5% of Americans. I say throw the switch on Feb 17 as the unprepared people will still not be ready in June.
By OregoniaDuke
February 5, 2009 7:15 AM | Link to this
Count me with the “Don’t delay the switch” crowd. We have been bombarded with special programs, news crawlers, newspaper articles, and internet news stories of the transition to digital for over a year now. It’s a constant cacophony of “you need to do something, stupid” PSA’s every day, and if some are not ready, it’s their own fault. These same people are the ones who will not be ready for the switch in June, and will most likely demand that the ‘government’ GIVE them the converters.
By Brian
February 5, 2009 6:54 AM | Link to this
Finally, some good old-fashioned common sense is being used (at least by some stations). Even with the digital switchover being delayed until June by most stations, there will still be millions who choose not to take steps to be ready. What do we do then, wait additional months?
Going ahead with the digital switchover is a good thing — hopefully it will push those procrastinators into get their act together.
By POV
February 5, 2009 6:30 AM | Link to this
I am fine with the change to digital, except I am having a very hard time finding a small, inexpensive portable for work. Right now we have a 5” black & white for the morning weather updates that we need for our jobs. I have been looking everywhere, even on ebay, and can’t find anything for less than $125. It would “grow legs and walk away” if I got something that expensive.
By icy
February 5, 2009 6:23 AM | Link to this
maybe they will slip and fall while changing over
By Ken
February 5, 2009 6:22 AM | Link to this
Good for them! I think every TV station that is ready should make the switch on the 17th. The industry has been alerting people for 2-3 years (the heaviest stuff in the last year). Anyone who isn’t ready by now is just lazy, and probably won’t be ready by June either.
By Chuck
February 5, 2009 6:20 AM | Link to this
Let’s not forget how much money the tv stations have been forced to spend to upgrade to digital from analog. The TV stations are also bearing the extra expense of keeping the old analog transmitters on the air, engineering expenses and probably a Hugh monthly electric bill.
By John M
February 5, 2009 2:11 AM | Link to this
There have been advertisements running on the local channels in Florida for over six months about the switch to digital signal. Everyone should have perticipated in the coupon program at least three to four months ago. I said forget the people who have been delaying getting the necessary equipment.
By Sunflower
February 5, 2009 1:35 AM | Link to this
There is no need for delaying the transition. We have been given over a years notice. Within a week the 6 million households will have figured out how to receive a digital signal.
If coupons expired the government should have canceled the expiration date instead of telling them to get another coupon. If the program ran out of money how is taking it to June going to help? The people need battery radios for emergency weather or disaster info. They can exist. We have during power outages before.