Digital Conversion

[cigarsmkrwi]

What will happen to ch 58 on DTV when the analog transmitters are shutdown in February? Will they finally reach an agreement or will it just go dark?

[Paul Pavlik]

Ch 58 is already transmitting TV on BOTH their assigned Digital channel AND on Ch 58 analog. The 58 Analog will cease in Februrary.

The channel 58 analog frequency is not among those frequencies that will be used in the DTV system. The DTV system uses the physical frequencies assigned to Channels 2 through 51.

The Ch 58 Virtual DTV signal is being transmitted on a assigned Physical Frequency in the 2-51 group. This is happening right now.

[troyriley]

By "DTV", I'm assuming you mean DirecTV, and not Digital TV. DirecTV does not get WDJT's signal from it's analog transmitter. The February conversion only applies to over-the-air broadcasting, not satellite. DirecTV will continue to air WDJT's standard-definition broadcast and send that digital signal from their satellite to your satellite dish the same way it does now. The same applies for all other local broadcast stations available on DirecTV, not just 58.

[Paul Pavlik]

(Responding to troyriley)

In my previous post, The meaning of DTV is Digital TV, Not Direct TV.

I.E:

Ch 58 is already transmitting TV on BOTH their assigned Digital OTA channel AND on Ch 58 analog OTA. The 58 Analog OTA will cease in Februrary.

The channel 58 analog OTA frequency is not among those frequencies that will be used in the Digital OTA TV system. The Digital TV OTA system uses the physical frequencies assigned to Channels 2 through 51.

The Ch 58 Virtual Digital TV signal is being transmitted on a assigned Physical OTA Frequency  in the 2-51 group. This is happening right now.

[troyriley]

(Responding to troyriley)

In my previous post, The meaning of DTV is Digital TV, Not Direct TV.

Sorry for the confusion, but I was referring to the original post by cigarsmkrwi. I have a feeling he/she meant DirecTV by "DTV", based on the lack of agreement DirecTV and WDJT have for the satellite company to carry 58's HD broadcast. This may be another case of HDTV getting confused with DTV, and perhaps not fully understanding the implications of the analog shutoff.

[RonH]

I've wondered this myself.

One above post implies that CBS58 will continue an analog (or perhaps SD digital) broadcast via some direct line to the sattelite broadcasters and maybe TWC after the digital transtion.  My understanding is it will be up to the cable/sat companies to create their own 4:3 SD version of the 16:9 HD versions of the local channels.  During programs showing pillar boxed 4:3 programming it's easy, crop it.  But during HD 16:9 programs, they either have to crop it or put black bars on it.  Directv is already doing this for milwaukee's PBS on channel 10.  I think the SD fox6 may already be a cropped 6.1 feed too.  Maybe CBS58 will have a SD version for sat companies.

As another thread indicated, CBS58 is already on directv in HD, but we aren't allowed to access it.  If you have an HR21, if you can find any of the mix channels, or even the active menu if there is a CBS program that is in the popular category, you can just click that and watch CBS58 in HD on directv.  On an H20 it only shows it for 1second and bumps it back out.

I once saw a post on dbstalk with addresses for all the directv analog antennas and where there new digital antennas are.  It was just on the top of some building in downtown Milwaukee.

Similar to CBS58, what will happen to all the other local channels like 18.1, 24.1, and the others I care less about.  They will have to start cropping those down to SD or give us the HD feed.

[LoadStar]

I would imagine that once analog transmission ends, the satellite companies would have to negotiate a new agreement to carry the digital channel, and if they don't come to an agreement, the station drops off the services.

If I recall correctly, this wouldn't be the first time that WDJT isn't offered at all, would it be?

[Tom Snyder]

I have it on good authority that DirecTV has to negotiate new carriage agreements with all the locals, as they all expire in February.

CBS58 may not be the only local not available. I've been told to keep my antenna handy.

[vegasvic]

Well historically it's only been 58 that has been a long term holdout, first with SD and now HD.  Since February is sweeps I expect the other locals to come to a reasonable agreement with DirecTV as they have done in the past.

[foxeng]

Due to the Digital Transition on February 17, there will be no sweeps anywhere in the US for the whole month of February.

[LoadStar]

Due to the Digital Transition on February 17, there will be no sweeps anywhere in the US for the whole month of February.

Is Nielsen just skipping that sweeps period, or rescheduling it earlier or later?

You know, if I were at Nielsen, I would still move forward with the February sweeps - but make it "unofficial" or something like that (mark it with an asterisk or something?). They could include an additional survey in with the diary asking questions about the digital transition. It'd be rather illuminating to see the results.

They could still do the "official" sweeps in March then or something.

[Bluto]

I think they *are* delaying sweeps until March.

[foxeng]

It depends on the market. Most markets it will be delayed to March. Those markets with March ratings will not have a February ratings.

[Dan the Man]

Tom,

Are you implying that other local stations may not be able to reach an agreement with the satellite companies once the current contracts expire? That sounds unpleasant.... I assume you have some inside info.