Titan TV has some bad news. Apparently, we've been lied to

[Joseph S]

by at least WITI, if not the others.
Fox 33 WITI-DT Nov 1, 2002
FMN 44 WMMF-DT Nov 1, 2002

Other old bad info:
PBS 35 WMVT-DT FEB 1, 2003
REL 22 WVCY-DT FCC Extenion

UPN 25 WCGV-DT Sep 1, 2002

Stations still listing May 1 that are probably full of it at this late date.
ABC 34 WI$N-DT May 1, 2002
PAX 35 WMVT-DT May 1, 2002
SAH 48 WJJA-DT May 1, 2002

This is very frustrating news to get especially when it comes FIVE YEARS AFTER THE STATIONS AGREED TO THE DEADLINE IN EXCHANGE FOR FREE AIRWAVES!!!!!!!!! FCC Chairman Powell, the Bush Administration, and local stations owe us a refund for failing to carry out their side of the deal or have their rights to those airwaves revoked.

I just don't get how they get away with this at WITI. They were granted a construction permit on 4/7/2000 and did not file for an extension by March 1st. (or later) This is just disgraceful and the local media doesn't care one bit.

edit: grammar issues

[This message has been edited by Joseph S (edited 04-21-2002).]

[Kevin Arnold]

So what's the deal with the FCC web site not clueing us in as to the delay. Fox has the Packer games, hopefully in Fox half a**ed wide screen and they're just going to sit back and take their sweet time? Must have woke up one fine March morn and discovered that they were supposed to have a staion up and running by May 1. Shocked, simply shocked. A friend  you can count on indeed! Maybe we should contact "Contact 6" and ask them to look into this.  (Snicker)

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Kevin Arnold
38" RCA widescreen w/a Winegard on a rotor.

[Joseph S]

 

Maybe we should contact "Contact 6" and ask them to look into this. (Snicker)

I actually tried that one with both Fox and WI$N after the Olympics to no avail, they didn't respond at all.

I didn't think they were telling us the truth, but I've got the emails saying they would comply and now we have the truth.

 

From: "Dean C Maytag"
Date: Tue Feb 19, 2002  09:18:02  AM US/Central
Subject: HDTV

WISN intends to meet the May, 2002 deadline to replicate our analog signal on
Channel 34 with a Digital TV product.  At that time we will "pass-through" to
the viewer all "high definition" (HDTV) programming available to us from the
network.  It was our intention to begin transmission prior to this date;
however, WISN is trying to work out issues with the City of Milwaukee to
increase its tower height to fully replicate our analog signal as required by
the FCC.   At this time, the city opposes us on the tower height issue.

As far as the logos are concerned, our intention is to keep the logos on our
analog signal because of the identification concerns in a multi-channel
environment.

Dean Maytag

Director of Broadcast Operations
WISN-TV

Show me, Dean, you weren't lying. You claimed you wanted to be up before 5/1, but would be up on 5/1 no matter what. It still says 5/1 on TitanTV and it better be Alias in HD the following Sunday!

Same goes for Fox.

[RickNeff]

I gotta be honest -- even if these guys do make the deadline, only ABC has any real HDTV programming that would be useful.  Fox doesn't do any real HD stuff since they skate by with mere "widescreen" programming.  If WB and UPN offer anything in HD, I'm not aware of it (of course, I can't say I watch anything on either, except "Simpsons" reruns.)

I do think the FCC should put the pressure on them for not meeting the deadline, but really can't imagine what would really be gained in HDTV terms if they made the deadline.

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Richard Neff
Proud Toshiba 56x81 owner!

[Matt Heebner]

I was hoping that FOX was going to do Packer games in 480p this football season. I know its not HD, but it has to be better than the seriously OVER compressed locals over DirecTV. Packer games on WITI are almost non-watchable becuase of this.
I am still looking forward to ABC going up May 1 though (fingers crossed!). As of May 1, are all the digital stations supposed to be full time? Will NBC go full time as of May 1? I am wondering becuase with stations going full time I am hoping to cancel my local package with DirecTv. Paying $6 for ugly compressed locals just grates me. the only local stations I watch are NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC. I cant remember the last time I watched UPN or WB.

Matt

[oflaherty]

Matt -- No, WTMJ-DT will not be going full time in May.
Perhaps in the fall.

--
Sean at TMJ4

[RobbQ]

Our friends at Fox 6, WITI-DT channel 33, plan on having a digital signal up by May 1!

The only program that I have watched on channel 6 in a long time is "24", mainly due to bad reception.  I just might have to check out what else they have on there once I get a digital signal.

[Tom Snyder]

 

Our friends at Fox 6, WITI-DT channel 33, plan on having a digital signal up by May 1!

And your source on this is... ?

P.S. Sorry to be so cynical but us old timers have been conditioned to automatically disbelieve pertnear everything we hear.  

[Kevin Arnold]

Sorry to agree with Tom, RobbQ but I have to think that if 6 or 12 will be on air next Wed. they would have to be testing by now. Can't just turn these things on at the last minute. And since they haven't even bothered to mention anything on their websites about any new station launch, I think they're just blowing smoke for the sake of the FCC. How can two stations (OK three if you count public TV) embrace this fully and be open and cooperative with the HD community, and the others treat this as their bastard sons. Go figure. What exactly are they afraid of? Me thinks May 1st will look at lot like April 1st.

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Kevin Arnold
38" RCA widescreen w/a Winegard on a rotor.

[RobbQ]

Don't be sorry, I love cynics.  I don't believe unsubstantiated rumors either.  In this case, as far as I can tell, it is true.  Now, I said that they "plan" to have a signal up by the first.  I agree that without testing they're going to have rough going for a while.

[Joseph S]

 

In this case, as far as I can tell, it is true.

Anybody set up that Antenna Farm cam yet?? I have a feeling that Eagle cam has more action and she still hasn't left that nest.  

[Kevin Arnold]

OK, maybe we should make book on this. Lets see, I'd give 5 to 1 odds against WITI and 10 to 1 against WISN. Step right up folks, place your bets. Now, your not an engineer with Fox are  you?

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Kevin Arnold
38" RCA widescreen w/a Winegard on a rotor.

[Joseph S]

 

10 to 1 against WISN

Forget the bet, I'd give WI$N $100 to give me Alias and all the other shows in HD and DD 5.1. I'm dying for ABC's HD programming, more PBS stuff(fantastic HD material available), and "24" in Widescreen 480P and Seinfeld without going off ATSC band if nothing else.

CBS was a good start for quantity, but I do like ABC's shows more on the whole. (We've missed "Once and Again" HD) NBC primetime is supposed to be all HD starting this Fall. Yep, all eighteen spinoffs of Law and Order in HD.  

[RobbQ]

Nope, not an engineer.

 

Originally posted by kjarnold:
I'd give 5 to 1 odds against WITI

but I would take that bet.

[Gregg Lengling]

If you look back through the message archives you will find that I posted information from the VP of Engineering at Fox 6..of course he is now in Chicago but here's the gist of it.
FOX6 has filed an STA with the FCC to run their digital on their Studio Tower until work is completed on their main tower.  If they would receive the STA approval they would meet the May 1st deadline.  But seeing as I haven't seen any approval of the STA I wouldn't hold my breath or bet either way.


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Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
gregg@camelcomm.com