FCC Approves MPTV Plan for a Full-Time High Definition Station

[Tom Snyder]

May 5, 2003
For immediate release
 
FCC Approves MPTV Plan for a
Full-Time High Definition Station

   The Federal Communications Commission has approved a request from Milwaukee Public Television that will enable the station to broadcast high definition programming full-time on WMVT-DT, according to Ellis Bromberg, MPTV general manager.

MPTV had asked the FCC to waive the requirement that its new digital TV station, WMVT-DT (Digital Channel 35), simulcast 50 percent of the programs on its sister analog channel, WMVT (Channel 36).

   MPTV plans to put WMVT-DT on the air in June.  Its first digital channel, WMVS-DT, began broadcasting in March, 2000.  The new digital channel will offer only high definition programming 24 hours a day, drawing from both local and national sources, Bromberg said.

   "We consider ourselves pioneers in digital television, and the fact that we operate two digital stations in the same city gives us a rare opportunity to experiment with the medium," Bromberg said.  "With digital, you can either dedicate your channel to a single stream of high definition digital programming, or split up the signal into a number of multicast digital streams.  The FCC ruling will enable our viewers to have the best of both worlds."

Since WMVT-DT will not be required to simulcast WMVT programs, viewers who can receive signals from all the MPTV analog and digital services will be able to choose from eight different MPTV programs at any given time.  They include the original stations (Channels 10 and 36), delayed broadcasts of 10 and 36, children's programming, enrichment and instructional programs, a classical music channel, and the new HD station.
FCC rules now require that television stations with digital signals simulcast their programming in the old and new forms at least 50 percent of the time.  MPTV argued that it was able to simulcast all programming from its two analog stations on two of WMVS-DT's multicast channels.  

The commission said it found "good cause" to grant the request because it will enable MPTV  "to experiment with innovative uses of [WMVT-DT] and to offer additional digital programming to the community."  Viewers with digital TV sets or converters will be able to receive the signal, as well as the more than 80,000 viewers subscribing to Time Warner's digital cable tier.
The entire FCC decision may be found on-line at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-03-1292A1.pdf.
   
MPTV built a 1,221-foot digital tower in 1999 and has been assembling high definition production and post-production facilities since that time.  The station, a viewer-supported service of Milwaukee Area Technical College, produces many of its specials along with series such as Tracks Ahead and Great Lakes Gardener in high definition and has received several awards for its pioneering work in digital technology and distribution.

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   For more information, contact Kay Tierney, Publicist, MPTV (414) 297-7512.

[StarvingForHDTV]

That's the best news I have heard all day.  Thanks.

Starving

[Joseph S]

24hr HDTV is not too bad an offering. I'll take that over the midnight edition of Barney any day.