Omnibus EBook
Product Review
Reference Room
Doug Lung on RF
Focus on Editing

Inside Audio



Media Server Technology




Net Soup
News Technology
Production Manager

Digital Journal
Technology Corner
The Big Picture
The Masked Engineer
TVT News
Video Networking
Customer Service
Industry Jobs
Advertising Information
Subscribe to TVT

:: view all articles in:
TVT Newsbytes :: Top Stories

Orlando Stations to Test Analog Shutoff
 
May 9, 2008

About the same time that the FCC announced its trial analog shutoff experiment in the Wilmington, N.C. market, an alliance of 11 Orlando, Fla. stations announced that they too will do their own analog shutoff test this summer.

Starting in June and lasting through the end of the year, 11 participating stations will be involved in three separate tests. The first one is scheduled for June 25, 2008 at 7:59 p.m.; each test will last approximately one minute and all broadcast stations will participate simultaneously. The tests will be promoted on air prior to the test, and during each test, and, in the tradition of emergency alert system tests, the stations will first alert viewers and explain the test. The screens will then go dark for several seconds, as each station simulates the termination of the analog broadcast by removing the video signal that feeds the analog transmitter.

Viewers watching the signal on each station’s digital broadcasts and on cable and satellite systems, will be notified onscreen that they have successfully passed the test. At the test’s conclusion, viewers who were greeted with a blank screen will be notified that they need to take corrective action and try again during the next scheduled test. In addition, during the tests, each station will provide information to help viewers who need to take corrective action and resources for additional DTV transition assistance.

Stations participating in the tests include:
  • WESH-TV, Channel 2 (Hearst-Argyle Television)

  • WKMG-TV, Channel 6 (Post Newsweek)

  • WFTV-TV, Channel 9 (Cox Enterprises)

  • WCEU-TV, Channel 15 (Daytona Beach Community College District)

  • WKCF-TV, Channel 18 (Hearst-Argyle Television)

  • WMFE-TV, Channel 24 (Community Communications, Inc.)

  • WVEN-TV, Channel 26, Entravision Communications Corp.)

  • WRDQ-TV, Channel 27 (Cox Enterprises)

  • WOTF-TV, Channel 43 (Univision)

  • WTGL-TV, Channel 45 (Good Life Broadcasting)

  • WBCC-TV, Channel 68 (Brevard Community College)
Richard Mann, consortium spokesperson and chief engineer with WESH/WKCF-TV, said the test will provide members with the information needed to assess the potential success of the February 2009 scheduled shutoff.

“One of the biggest questions viewers have is ‘will this affect me?’” Mann said. “This test will answer that. To the best of our knowledge, the market-wide test we’re proposing has not been utilized or attempted by any other alliance of broadcasters in the country.”




Sponsored Links
Harris Corporation's Broadcast Communications Division designs products that streamline workflow of content production, processing, transmission, management, storage, test and measurement and broadcast graphics. Click here!
RF Central - Total RF solutions manufacturer (TV broadcast): Full-Service 2GHz Relocation, COFDM, HDTV ENG components, complete links.
Transradio: DRM, AM, VHF/FM - We make the transmitters. Visit us now at www.transradio.de for more information.


advertisement

Television Ad Buying & Placement
Let us plan and buy your media for you. We can get you great discounts with national and regional cable networks.

High-Definition Television Equipment
Offers HDTV audio and video cable and accessories online, as well as speakers and speaker cables. A division of CableWholesale.com.

CRE - Audio & Visual Equipment Rentals for Your Next Event
Provide audio & visual presentation rental equipment for events. Plasma displays, LCD monitors, speakers, sound systems and more. Get free quote now.



 
. home | Products and Services | TV Technology| about NewBay Media| contact us