DTV allows television stations to broadcast multiple signals at the same time. WHIO-TV currently broadcasts on DTV channels 7.1 (our main programming and CBS network programming) and 7.2 (the Miami Valley's only local weather channel - 7 Weather Now). Tuesday normal coverage on 7.1 was interrupted to cover all of Sen. Barack Obama's speech, while all of Sen. John McCain's speech was broadcast on 7.2. (Channel assignments were determined by the flip of a coin, and will be reversed should the situation happen again).
"We're very pleased to once again be the first to use new technology for the benefit of Miami Valley viewers," said WHIO-TV News Director David Bennallack. "This was a great opportunity to show viewers how DTV can work for them."
By February 17, 2009, all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. If you were not able to view the candidate speeches on WHIO-TV's digital channels today, you may not be ready for the digital transition. Here's how to get the information you need about DTV.
WHIO-DT 7.1 can also be found on Time Warner's digital tier as channel 707. DT 7.2 is located at Time Warner channel 708, as well as on basic cable channel 23 in some parts of the Miami Valley.
In addition to the DTV coverage, the speeches of both candidates were live-streamed in their entirety on whiotv.com, and portions of each speech (with each candidate getting equal time), were broadcast live on analog channel 7.