Remember this date: February 17, 2009.

By federal mandate, WNIT and all other major TV stations will switch from analog to digital signals on February 17, 2009. People who receive over-the-air television signals through antennas and who do not subscribe to cable or satellite service will be affected by the transition and will need to take action to continue receiving television service.

What does that mean to you, our members?

Analog television refers to the current broadcasting system. The technical differences between analog and digital television are of vital importance to broadcast engineers but not to the average viewer. What I would like to talk about here is what you can expect in your TV viewing over the next few years.

You have undoubtedly heard the term "high definition" television. High definition TV refers generally to a TV picture which is much sharper and more detailed than regular, standard definition viewing. High definition and digital television should not be used interchangeably. You must have digital broadcasting in order to receive high definition TV, but not all digital broadcasts result in high definition. A digital broadcast may be either high definition or standard definition, whereas an analog broadcast can only convey standard definition.

So, one reason for the change from analog to digital is to improve the quality of your TV reception. But there's another reason. All television broadcasting channels in the United States, public and commercial, are owned by the federal government, which in turn assigns them to individual stations. The government is eager to recoup the analog television channels so that it can then re-assign them to broadband carriers, such as telephone and Internet companies. The federal government will accrue billions of dollars from this re-assignment, and Congress is eager to make this happen.

Now, how will this change affect your viewing? There are two general components that comprise TV reception: the type of television set owned by the viewer and the type of signal being sent by the station. In general terms, your set may be an analog (regular) television, it may be an analog set with a digital receiver (little black box) added on, or it may be a newer, high definition set. Stations can send TV signals in three ways - over the air, via cable or by satellite, and in two formats, analog and digital. By February 17, 2009, WNIT, like all other broadcasters, will cease analog broadcasting and replace it by digital broadcasting. The digital signal will still be available in three formats - over the air, cable and satellite.

If you are connected to cable or satellite service, you will still be able to receive standard definition television on your regular, analog set. However, if you receive your signal over the air, as of February 17, 2009, your analog TV set will show only static. In order to receive over the air digital signals, you must purchase a digital receiver--a little black set-top box--or a high definition set with a built-in digital receiver. Congress has indicated it may provide some subsidies to help families purchase the digital receiver, but the details have not been worked out.

In order to receive high definition, two things must occur. First, you must purchase a digital receiver to add to your analog set or a high definition set with built-in digital receiver. Second, the program you are watching must be broadcast in high-definition signals from both its original broadcaster and its local re-broadcaster. It sounds complicated, but the results are spectacular.

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DIGITAL BROADCAST, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 17, 2009

Here are the key points:

If you receive your transmissions over the air (usually with a roof-top antenna) and you have a regular, analog set, you will lose all television reception as of February 17, 2009. To avoid this, you must either switch to cable or satellite transmission or purchase a digital receiver to be added to your current set.

To receive high definition TV, you must own a high definition set with built-in digital receiver and the program you are watching must be broadcast in high definition both at its point of origin and by the local re-broadcaster.

In the months ahead, I will return several times to this important subject. And rest assured: WNIT public television is committed to its members. Digital or analog, high definition or standard, WNIT will maintain its commitment to the quality of our programming as we advance the quality of our broadcast technology.

Connect with WNIT about DTV/HDTV

Share your thoughts and questions about the digital television transition with Brian Hoover, WNIT's Chief Engineer/Director of Broadcast Operations. If you're currently a consumer of digital television please read the following.

Dear DTV/HDTV Consumer,
We are most interested in knowing what our prospective audience will be for our digital signal. If you have already purchased DTV/HDTV receiving equipment, we would like to know what equipment you have, how difficult it has been to receive off-air DTV and what antenna system is required in your location, what digital programming you would like to see and what your thoughts and opinions are on the whole DTV transition. If you have not yet purchased digital receiving equipment, but are planning to, we would like to know your approximate timetable to do so. We would also like to know any comments or questions you have about digital television. Please feel free to e-mail me directly, or you can call me at 574-675-9648.

Thanks again for your interest in WNIT Television!

Sincerely yours,

Brian L. Hoover
Chief Engineer/Director of Broadcast Operations
WNIT Television

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