Update from Milwaukee Public TV

[Tom Snyder]

Long email from Karen Copper, but some pretty important stuff is in here.

WMVT-HD

Thank you all for your patience, as we go through the transition of HD programming occasionally on WMVS-HD, to full-time on WMVT-HD.

As of tonight or tomorrow, as soon as the link can be set up, we will be posting the HD schedule in a similar  format as our other listings on the web site, which will make August and September HD schedules available.

There will be some fine-tuning to the information in the header, in the near future. Otherwise, it is bigger and better, with the help of the computer in the accuracy of the scheduling area, instead of a hand-typed list; and program descriptions, too, when they are available.

For the present, until we get to the point of dealing with a higher volume of programming, the report will include current and future programming  chronologically, all in ONE file,
instead of splitting it up by month.

We are still processing a way to deal with changes, and deciding where and how these will be posted.

I will probably not send notices that the programming is available, because it will be easy to check on the web site, as needed.

A few notes: Presently, the HD programming can be found on 35-3, because of an equipment failure. Shortly, it will again be located on 36-1.

Also, our on-screen logo is now smaller and blue-toned; with its placement in the upper left corner giving it the least amount of interference from other elements that tend to show up, especially in the loop programming.

As always, we appreciate input from our viewers to help make the programming and ancillary services better and better.

This is a big step for HD programming in the Milwaukee market, and we are proud to offer this state-of-the-art service.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Originally posted by Tom Snyder
As always, we appreciate input from our viewers to help make the programming and ancillary services better and better.

Would a neutral grey station logo have less chance of burn in?

How about grabbing the Dolby Digital 5.1 equipment from 10-1 and using it on 36-1?  That would make the sound quality better on some programming.

I'm glad the new station is on the air.

Starving

[sdn10s]

Originally posted by Tom Snyder
Also, our on-screen logo is now smaller and blue-toned; with its placement in the upper left corner giving it the least amount of interference from other elements that tend to show up, especially in the loop programming.

But why does it have to appear on the screen all the time??? There's almost always another logo in the lower right corner, and during one program last night, still another in the lower left corner, although only for a few seconds. Whoever came up with the original idea for these damn things???  :bang:

[Gregg Lengling]

I agree, they don't need to be there all the time.  If you are trying to protect the content so someone can't make a clean copy without logos (granted PBS doesn't interupt for ads), just pop the logo up for 15 or 30 seconds every 15 minutes or half hour.  There is no need for that distracting bug up there for the whole program.  

MPTV may think that it is unobtrusive and small, but that's on a 35" or smaller set.  Sit in front of my 61" or someones 65 or a projector and look at that sucker for the whole program.

I think I'll be holding back on my renewal membership, or maybe just include and return with no money with a letter explaining my hatred of the "BUGS" or "STATION LOGOS" or whatever they want to call them today.

[bimmer_immer]

MPTV may be understandably proud of their shiny new HDTV station. As an OTA viewer, I offer my sincere congratulations and thanks.

But if you are reading this -- I beg you -- PLEASE PLEASE lose the "bug". It is very large, very obtrusive and very annoying. The blue tone makes it stand out even more!

Perhaps something a bit more transparent? Or merely not on screen at all times?

Respectfully,
-Brian Hill

[GS kid]

Did ANYBODY notice the blue glitches on the screen this weekend? I haven't really looked to see if it was doing it today. When things like the HD intros (the following program is in High def..... welcome to the future) came on , I saw these random blue vertical lines in the black background of the intro. I would guess this would have something to do with the new "blue" bug they put on the screen. It only started happening since the new bug was put on and the glitches are same color as it. Anybody see this?:confused:


The time & date coming from 36-1 is no longer bouncing around randomly for me. It's now stuck on 9:00a.m. 7/31 and holding. Still not good but at least it stopped. It was bugging me.

[davezen2]

I was seeing the blue lines too, just about everytime a scene faded to black.

[ReesR]

I wrote to Karen and she responded:

Hi Karen:

The new digital High Definition station on 36 is fantastic.
It is wonderful to finally see PBS high def programming 24 hrs a day.  But if you check the Milwaukee HDTV users group you will see a real trend in one specific area.  Namely, the logo is way to big.  In fact the whole issue of logos has gotten way out of hand.  Now we have logos in the lower right, lower left and now in the upper left which is really distracting and should be eliminated.  High Definition is ALL about QUALITY.  Adding logos to all those from the networks kills the whole notion of quality. What can be done?

For example, can it not be shown for short periods of time?  Must it be shown all the time?  What kind of programming is acceptable if you have all these logos all over the screen?

Sincerely

Rees Roberts
Racine, WI

===============
The reply:



Hi!

Thank you for writing about the proliferation of logos
on the broadcasts of HD programming.
You and others have a very good point.

I think the identification flurry will settle down
once better automation & log equipment gets installed,
which we will have a little more control over;
also, eventually, future guidelines will limit where
producing stations will be allowed to put logos, too,
(as they do now, for full-length programs).

As we learn more about additional HD/digital/computer-type options, there will be many more "bells and whistles" of options offered in the future that we will all be getting used to, in addition.

--Karen
=================

[sdn10s]

I noticed last night that the 36 logo in the upper left corner was gone. If this is a permanent change, THANK YOU!

Now..... what can be done about the other logo in the bottom right corner???  

[Tom Snyder]

Typically, with PBS, logos in the lower right are inserted in production by the station producing the show... nothing that they can do locally to remove those.

[sdn10s]

Thanks, Tom. I've noticed they change from program to program and figured that was why. Oh well.....

[GS kid]

Well the time & date are now running the way it should now for me. As for the blue glitches..... I haven't noticed them lately but I haven't been watching enough to see it. It's getting better.

[SugarRay]

Since I can't figure out the HD schedule on PBS , and have really only seen the loop, what are the top 3-5 programs that I should be looking out for in Aug and September?

[Tom Snyder]

The national listing of the highlights is at http://www.pbs.org/digitaltv/dtvsched.htm

Keep in mind that WMVS has refrained from showing the "widescreen" non-hd stuff because they say that would be "confusing" to the viewers.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Originally posted by Tom Snyder
The national listing of the highlights is at http://www.pbs.org/digitaltv/dtvsched.htm

Keep in mind that WMVS has refrained from showing the "widescreen" non-hd stuff because they say that would be "confusing" to the viewers.

Why did they go back to this policy again?  Jeez.  When 36-1 first came on the air the widescreen standard definition shows were being passed through for us.  This is a big mistake on their part.  Who wants to watch this stuff letterboxed and stretched on 10 analog with a widescreen TV?  Not me....

:bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

Starving