The Association Of Public Television Stations To Study Viability of Early Shutdown

[Gregg Lengling]

The Association Of Public Television Stations To Study The Viability Of An Early Analog shutdown.


APTS Will Explore the Circumstances under which Public Television Stations Could Embrace a "Hard Date" for Ending Analog Transmission, Thereby Moving the Digital Transition Forward


WASHINGTON, November 10, 2003 - The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) recently announced that it would, pursuant to a directive from the APTS Board of Trustees, begin an exploration of the circumstances under which public television stations could embrace a "hard date" for the Analog Switch Off (ASO).

John Lawson, president & CEO of APTS, said: "Our Board recognized that there are major advantages for public stations to end analog transmission and embrace a 'date certain' for converting to digital transmission only. For example, ASO would save our stations $36 million a year in the electricity costs we currently incur on analog transmission." This figure represents almost 20% of the total funding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting distributed to public television stations in Fiscal Year 2003 as Community Service Grants. Mr. Lawson continued: "Above all, embracing ASO would allow public television to focus all of our energy and resources on the future, not on a dying analog distribution system. The American public will be the ultimate winner," he said.

Lawson said that APTS is well aware that public television cannot effect an early transition alone and that APTS is sounding out other players on forming a combined effort. These include commercial broadcasters, DTV product vendors, the consumer electronics industry, and the PC industry. Lawson indicated that an alliance with other groups with an interest in the return of the analog spectrum would also be essential, including the wireless industry and the public safety community.

"Federal policy also will play a decisive role in completing the digital transition," Lawson said. "Any plan for an early return of analog spectrum is dead without guarantees-either negotiated or mandated-that all of our stations' digital signals are carried on cable and direct broadcast satellite systems."

Lawson reiterated public television's commitment to "universal service" and protecting households that rely on over the air broadcasting to receive television. "Any plan we come up with has to avoid turning off free television. Instead, we must create marketplace incentives for consumers to purchase DTV receivers for free digital television," he said.

Noting the dramatic price drop of digital to analog set-top boxes in the European market, Lawson cited the example of Berlin, which last August became the first market in the world to totally switch off analog broadcasting. "They transitioned 160,000 over-the-air households in 18 months, mainly by marketing set-tops to them," he said. Lawson said APTS also is impressed by the success of the "Freeview" digital terrestrial service in the United Kingdom, where 100,000 digital set-top boxes are being sold each month and the service is successfully competing with cable, according to figures Lawson cited.

Lawson wants to make clear that APTS was just initiating its exploration and no decisions have been made about a hard date by the APTS Board. "There obviously are many challenges to weigh before proceeding, and I must emphasize that this is the beginning of a process that will involve extensive research at the legislative, regulatory and consumer market levels."

However, Lawson said there was serious interest from APTS member stations in completing the digital transition and ending analog transmission. He pointed to a survey that APTS conducted with its members last summer. Fully 88 percent of APTS member stations participating in an online consultation indicated they would support a hard date in return for certain policy concessions. As part of its planning, APTS will develop, among other elements, a set of legislative and regulatory proposals that would constitute the set of policies necessary for public television stations to embrace ASO.

Lawson concluded: "The benefits of a hard date are numerous for stations, the government, the economy, and the public. Public television stations should continue their leadership among American broadcasters in finding ways to move the digital transition to a successful conclusion."

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Note to reporters: For a case study on the analog switch off in Berlin, please visit the Media Authority of Berlin-Brandenburg and download the report.