WITI still with no OTA dTV...

[Joseph S]

Don't worry, can't get it with a roof antenna in Tosa either so...

[foxeng]

Originally posted by borghe
yes foxeng, I actually was aware of that (per my conversation with a Fox6 engineer, was it you?) that being said, I can only assume it is Fox's intention to "allow" for reception over indoor rabbit ears being that most non-cable owning folks don't have roof mounted antennas, especially given the proliferation of OTA viewers now that satellite systems seem to be perpetuating that as the preferred way to pick up local stations.

Sorry, that wasn't me you talked to. I live in North Carolina, but I do work for a FOX O & O here and do know a couple of the guys there.

The current FCC Rules state that a station is only required to cover their city of license with a grade B signal. The program the FCC requires stations to use to figure out how much antenna/power for a given area is based on the Rice/Longley method and it is WELL KNOWN for its MANY mistakes in figuring coverage areas.

I don't know how many cases I have heard of stations, analog and digital, interfering with each other to the point that one or both have had to power down so low that they can't be seen while the FCC straightens is all out. Two stations in MD sued each other over interference, one was a digital interfering with an analog. That was a mess.

So based on what the FCC wants and says broadcasters have to use, this is the type of stuff that is happening and it is not just unique to Milwaukee, but the whole country. Only saving grace is that in a couple of years stations will have to be a full power levels to retain the license so this is a very short lived problem.

[Joseph S]

This has absolutely nothing to do with interference. Fox 6's GM Chuck Steinmetz joined the list of many folks that lied to me about their digital plan when Summer '03 became Fall '03.

What else can we say but that they're almost as bad as the pathetic Sinclair Anti-Broadcasting Corp. Slightly better  however, considering the lie wasn't laced with obscenities like the Sinclair May '02 response was.

Only saving grace is that in a couple of years stations will have to be a full power levels to retain the license so this is a very short lived problem.

I doubt it.

Ref: The current FCC Rules state that a station is only required to cover their city of license with a grade B signal.

Clearly the FCC isn't doing their job as Powell spends his time searching for  weapons of mass corruption in the Bahamas, Aspen, and at all other parties thrown by the broadcasters.

[foxeng]

Originally posted by Joseph S
This has absolutely nothing to do with interference. Fox 6's GM Chuck Steinmetz joined the list of many folks that lied to me about their digital plan when Summer '03 became Fall '03.

You fail to realize something here. When major engineering changes occur at a FOX O & O, it takes corporate permission. The GM just can't unilaterally decide, "we are doing this." I can tell you from experience that the whole DTV process is NOT driven from the local level but from the corporate level. If FOX Television Stations, Inc tells a GM, NO, then that GM BETTER NOT DO IT or they will be looking for another job.

I can tell you that corporate's DTV plans have changed about every other week in the last 2 years and I suspect they will change again before it is all over with. This whole DTV transmitter move for WITI required permission from Corporate Engineering (because it took FCC permission and only corporate legal talks to the FCC and legal doesn't do anything without corporate engineering signing off on it) and they want things done a certain way and they get their way too. You ever seen these two names mentioned here? Dick Slenker: Earl Arbuckle? Without their OK, nothing happens.

In your anger my friend, you are blaming the messenger.

[Gregg Lengling]

Yeah guys let's ease up on the Messenger.  I appreciate having our friend from NC giving us the heads up and what Fox is doing.  At least we have some information as the local Honcho's don't seem to want to disseminate any information.

FoxEng....thanks for all the information, it helps us all understand the reasoning and operations at Fox6 Milwaukee.

[foxeng]

Originally posted by Gregg Lengling
FoxEng....thanks for all the information, it helps us all understand the reasoning and operations at Fox6 Milwaukee.

I can honestly say I have no direct contact on a regular basis with anyone at WITI. I just know how we do things here and how things seem to be done throughout the company. Take what I say with a grain of salt. It may or may not be the same at WITI.

All in all, FOX is not a bad company. They have to make money decisions that work for them and that doesn't always translate on the surface to what others may want or think.

I will say that FOX corporate engineering does have an ear to the ground and they do know what is happening, even if it doens't appear they do. Earl and Dick are two of the smartest guys I have ever known and they are not wrong very often. All I can say is "they have done us right" here and they will do right for WITI as well.

As for why no one from WITI has come up on here or why they haven't made any statements, I have no idea. I will tell you that in general, most engineers are nerds and tend to shy away from being very outgoing. They let upper management do the "public work" and many are very happy to stay anonymous. I too would rather fight with a cranky transmitter than have to deal with the public who doesn't understand and who really doesn't want to understand, just as long as they get what they want. I guess I have a little more vanity than others so I "put myself out here" so to speak.

My station hasn't made any big statements either, nor have we acknowledged our DTV channel except for top of the hour legal ID's. We, like other stations, decided until more people are there to watch it, why waste the time talking about it. I know that grates on many of you, but that is the general feeling within the industry and that will not change until the industry can make money with it. Fact of life. There are excpetions and you may have stations there who do talk about it. We have one station here who has in the ID they were the first with HDTV in the market (they were, 2001). Beat everyone on by 9 months. They are STILL number 3 in the ratings. Hasn't helped them at all. Other stations see that and respond accordingly.

There is a little insight to what MAY be happening. YMMV.

[Joseph S]

You fail to realize something here. When major engineering changes occur at a FOX O & O, it takes corporate permission. The GM just can't unilaterally decide, "we are doing this."

I'm sorry, but if he doesn't have the authority to do this than he can't in good conscience tell me that the situation would be corrected by summer '03.

I gave him credit for telling me a relatively firm date compared to Sinclair although the deadline had come and gone in 5/02. It's his job to say that the decision is not his or the decision has not been made. He should have refered myself and others to the person whose job it is to make the decision, rather than pass off another's lie.

[mhz40]

Originally posted by Joseph S
I'm sorry, but if he doesn't have the authority to do this than he can't in good conscience tell me that the situation would be corrected by summer '03.

I gave him credit for telling me a relatively firm date compared to Sinclair although the deadline had come and gone in 5/02. It's his job to say that the decision is not his or the decision has not been made. He should have refered myself and others to the person whose job it is to make the decision, rather than pass off another's lie.

I would think most of us surmise that no one here is in the position to make final decisions.  In the engineering field, even 'final' decisions change due to external factors....  From what I recall, foxeng doesn't even live in WI, so I don't understad why so much weight was given to his post re WITI in the first place.  IMHO, it's not his 'job' to do or say anything on this forum, nor tell you where to go with a complaint or question on a timeline.
It's this kind of attitude/backlash (although mild in this case) that keeps many people here who do have some info from providing it.

[Gregg Lengling]

From the beginning he has stated his location and that he worked for another Fox O & O station.  I don't think he misrepresented himself or provided us with any incorrect information.  I personally am glad to have him on this board....it gives us a snap-shot of how Fox works.

[foxeng]

Originally posted by Joseph S
I'm sorry, but if he doesn't have the authority to do this than he can't in good conscience tell me that the situation would be corrected by summer '03.

The GM IS responsible and they pass on information that they receive in good faith. They don't operate in a vacuum. Corporate does work closely with the GM's and everyone puts forth a good faith effort. But I will be honest with you, thre are very few stations, if any, that put digital above the analog. It isn't that they don't care, it is the fact the the analog is paying the bills and the digital is creating bills. If you have a hard time understanding that, then I can't help you. Sorry.

But best I can tell, they did/do plan on getting it up as quickly as they can. Stuff happens in the mean time.

It isn't brain surgery, it's just television.

[Joseph S]

From what I recall, foxeng doesn't even live in WI, so I don't understad why so much weight was given to his post re WITI in the first place. IMHO, it's not his 'job' to do or say anything on this forum, nor tell you where to go with a complaint or question on a timeline.
It's this kind of attitude/backlash (although mild in this case) that keeps many people here who do have some info from providing it.

I know that, I wasn't referring to a post by him as a source but rather 2 personal conversations with the GM of WITI. Sorry if foxeng thinks he's getting the backlash, as far as I understand he has zero to do with WITI and deserves no blame.

[Dan the Man]

I also have to say thanks to foxeng for any input or perspective that he may have.

The truth is (as I think he stated) is that the digital transmitters only cost the stations money. They do not create any additional revenue, or increase market share. I don't make my decisions on what to watch based on if it is HD or not, well sort of anyway. A station or network may have the best picture quality, but if the show still sucks, then who cares.

A year or more ago, our company was under consideration to provide some consulting engineering for WCGV/WVTV to help integrate the proposed DTV equipment into their leased transmitter building. We didn't get the work, however I remember meeting with the engineer over there. The station wasn't real fired up about having to install and operate the DTV equipment. Business is business. As much as we all like digital TV, this is an investment with no financial rate of return for any existing station.

In the long run, we will all be better off. In the mean time, we need to remember that not everyone embraces new technology like some of us techno-geeks, especially if it can't create a true benefit.