Times are really changing in the television business. We are in the process of making the change of being an old fashioned “broadcaster”, to a content provider whose material can be viewed on demand at a time convenient to the viewer. Of course, this will take some time to happen, but you can see the changes beginning right now.
Yesterday around 3:00, we put our live Pinpoint Doppler Radar feed on WCFT-DT, Channel 5.2. For many of you that makes no sense, but if you have a digital TV receiver and a good antenna, it is great news. WCFT-DT is the digital signal coming from our monstrous 2,000 foot tower in northeast Tuscaloosa county, the same tower that is home to our old analog signal on Channel 33. People with a digital television tuner can receive this signal on Channel 5 if they have a decent antenna; to get the live radar feed just tune to channel 5.2. Yes, we can multiple feeds over the same digital channel. This people will never have to miss regular programming again when we have to go “wall to wall” during severe weather coverage! We will take the main channel on 5.1, and put regular programs on 5.2 or 5.3. Our other digital signal will be on Channel 9 from Bald Rock mountain, the home of the Channel 40 analog signal now. The live radar will be on WJSU-DT Channel 9.2 when the transmitter goes on the air next month.
Our digital signals will ultimately be on satellite providers like DirecTV and Dish Network, and cable systems as well. The main digital signal will feature “high definition” TV, which provides stunning clarity. But for now, you generally have to have an antenna hooked to your digital TV receiver to get the “good stuff” from local broadcasters. Within a few years all TV stations will turn off the analog signals, when we will say “so long” to Channel 33 and Channel 40!
Yesterday around 3:00, we put our live Pinpoint Doppler Radar feed on WCFT-DT, Channel 5.2. For many of you that makes no sense, but if you have a digital TV receiver and a good antenna, it is great news. WCFT-DT is the digital signal coming from our monstrous 2,000 foot tower in northeast Tuscaloosa county, the same tower that is home to our old analog signal on Channel 33. People with a digital television tuner can receive this signal on Channel 5 if they have a decent antenna; to get the live radar feed just tune to channel 5.2. Yes, we can multiple feeds over the same digital channel. This people will never have to miss regular programming again when we have to go “wall to wall” during severe weather coverage! We will take the main channel on 5.1, and put regular programs on 5.2 or 5.3. Our other digital signal will be on Channel 9 from Bald Rock mountain, the home of the Channel 40 analog signal now. The live radar will be on WJSU-DT Channel 9.2 when the transmitter goes on the air next month.
Our digital signals will ultimately be on satellite providers like DirecTV and Dish Network, and cable systems as well. The main digital signal will feature “high definition” TV, which provides stunning clarity. But for now, you generally have to have an antenna hooked to your digital TV receiver to get the “good stuff” from local broadcasters. Within a few years all TV stations will turn off the analog signals, when we will say “so long” to Channel 33 and Channel 40!
on January 13, 2005, 8:49 am
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