FYI-

The 1394 output will soon become active. Believe it or not, Cox will be the first MSO to offer 1394 output via cable boxes. They will test it in Southern California first. It's a simple download that'll "turn-on" the output.

Cox Omaha is STILL clueless, even after being the first demographic in the country to provide HD via Cable. We all know more than they do. If your HD is acting up, pixelating, or dropping audio, make sure you complain! There is no reason or rational for this poor service!

Stay "tuned"


P.S. - GO HUSKERS!!!!

Was there an overnight upgrade to the 6200 decoder? My analog channels are looking better, less smearing of colors and no flicker now. The HD channels are still outstanding (all 10 of them!). I'm still getting some intermittent dropouts on INHD1 and INHD2, but I think it's better. Thanyou Cox Communication.

mooneycj

I hope there is an upgrade. I am still seeing the same PQ issues as before. What version of Firmware is on your box? I have 05.03

"What version of Firmware is on your box? I have 05.03"

Mines the same as yours redwood. Guess I was fooling myself. The flicker is back today.

mooneycj

I have noticed that on some programming I don't notice it, but others I do. Example: I go home for lunch and there is a soap opera on KMTV and it looks horrible, lots of flicker. Yet I can watch something else later that day on KMTV and it is fine. Who knows, I do hope for an upgrade to the firmware to help make it more watchable.

I spoke with one of Cox's "technicians" on Tuesday, 10/7/03, about the functionality of the firewire ports on the 6200. He said they were there but "weren't even hooked up inside." I figured he was crazy, because the connectors are there, and Motorola wouldn't put in connectors that don't connect to anything.

Turns out, he was only half-crazy.

It wasn't obvious, but I was able to find a technical support number on the Motorola web site for their HDTV STB's. The number is 877-466-8646. The fellow I talked to went off to research my question, and all the while I'm thinking how satisfying it will be to call the guy at Cox and tell him that Motorola said that they should work.

Not exactly.

The guy at Motorola said that the firmware for the firewire ports on the 6200 is not yet complete. And, he couldn't tell me when it would be ready. Obviously, Cox can't download what they don't have.

Bummer.

Now, take this for what it's worth -- even though I was speaking to Motorola, it was still second- or third-hand info. Might be completely wrong.

Other than the obvious firewire issue, I have had no problems with my 6200. It loaded fine, and it gives me an excellent SDTV and HDTV picture on my 64" Pioneer Elite PRO-710HD.


--Caz

Caz....just curious, is your name Craig?

Thanks

Does anybody know when local channels will be available on the Dish-network? I live in rural Neb and have a full Pioneer Elite system. The Dish-network is coming our with a HD-PVR receiver in Dec and I would like to be able to watch local HD-TV with my HD system via satellite. Thanks.

Just signed up for COX HD, and watched some pro football yesterday.....NIIIICEEE very nice........can't wait until all broadcasts are in HD....

Originally posted by vlee
Does anybody know when local channels will be available on the Dish-network? I live in rural Neb and have a full Pioneer Elite system. The Dish-network is coming our with a HD-PVR receiver in Dec and I would like to be able to watch local HD-TV with my HD system via satellite. Thanks.

Where do you live? I doubt Dish Network will ever offer HD locals via satellite. They don't have the capacity to feed the HD locals. Your best bet would be to erect an antenna and get them over the air (OTA).

Go to antennaweb.org to see how you sit as far as digital broadcast signals go.

I live in Albion. The distance to Lincoln and Omaha to receive HD-TV OTA is probably a stretch.

vlee

You may be able to pick up NETV (PBS) from GI or another repeater, and perhaps KOLN/KGIN from Grand Island.

After you get the HD receiver, throw up an antenna and see what you can get.

vlee:

You can probably receive local channels now via Dish, but they won't be HD. Dish has been providing the locals for a month or two now. DirecTV is supposed to offer locals in the next two months, but I've heard their satellite is being postponed until January.

FWIW, from Albion you will probably be able to pick up PBS HD from Norfolk, and possibly an HD feed from Grand Island (though I'm not sure KGIN is broadcasting with any power yet). Sioux City and Sioux Falls both have a couple of stations broadcasting, but they're a long-shot. You'll have an outside shot at Lincoln stations since their towers are really west of Lincoln (between Lincoln and Seward). A Channel Master 4228 with a pre-amp might get those for you. (Rated for approximately 60 miles, but have been known to do better.)

Happy HD Hunting!

Kevin

Actually, Dish has had the Omaha DMA locals up for a few months. Albion in in the western NE DMA, Lincoln, GI, Kearney and Hastings.

I figure you at about 75 miles from KOLN's tower near Beaver Crossing. With a good setup and conditions, I would think CBS could be a possibility.

Cox and the 6200

just a quick update...

According to my sources ;) the firewire connection should become active sometime around April '04 and the DVI connector should become active sometime around November '04

That's it for now. Out

Doug

I PROMISE it'll happen before April AND November....

i just got the 6200 from cox and i already had the dtc form directv iam running them both through my pioneer reciever with a component switcher . but now i have two bars going up my screen slight but noticable any help would be great.

Hey has anybody got VOOm yet it looks really cool.

And Pricey

There was some nice skip over the weekend. Too bad those old NTSC stations are still on. I'm sure I could have picked up many more HDTV stations if I hadn't been picking up repeaters for Columbus and Beatrice :)
BEAUTIFUL stuff Sunday night on KTWU Topeka (a PBS station) in HD.
I'm convinced somebody could make money off of an all "outdoor scenery" channel in High Definition.

Does anyone know if HDnet will be picking up the ISU/NE game this weekend? Last weekend the ISU/TX game was on in a similar PPV setup and HDnet did carry the game.

No hdnet for Huskers vs ISU, they are showing Delware vs Navy, I was also hoping Hdnet would show the huskers.

I've heard the ISU/NU game can be picked up on PPV. (DirecTV) I've heard. :-)

Mike

O.K., I'll bite. What's voom? and how much and why do I want it?

Basically another CABLE Network, like Direct TV only offering many channels of HD.
Link is below

http://www.voom.com

Originally posted by ajungjo
Basically another CABLE Network, like Direct TV only offering many channels of HD.
Link is below

http://www.voom.com

It's actually a DBS service aimed at the HD user. Cablevision is behind it.

Go to the HD Programming forum, a few threads can be found about VOOM.

Originally posted by dimer0
WOWT-DT is awesome. Caught me by surprise last night..

First time seeing Leno this way.. Ahh.. Makes the show /that/ much better.

I /did/ notice, tho, that the audio seemed a bit out of sync during that show.. Anyone else notice this?

Noww.... Almost there!!! FOX Digital would be the next one I would like... Even though they don't do HD, 16:9 football is much better than 4:3

The audio is still out-of-sync on Leno. I'm getting WOWT-DT on Cox with the DCT6200. The picture is nice, but the audio sync problem makes Leno almost unwatchable.

Anyone know if Cox is gonna show NBA TV's HD games in HD on a seperate channel or even at all?

I have been (unsucessfully) trying to get an update when the temporary hd feed will be available for channel 7. The last I heard (from warren) was mid december and I was hoping it may be ahead of schedule. Anyone have any updates on this?


Daryl

Daryl

Its my understanding that the Temporary Feed is for his Analog Signal, The Digital one will be when the new tower is up most likely a year or so away.

Anyone, know anything different?

Also, how is WOWT's Digital Antenna coming?

No, not the current temp feed. Warren said they had to rebuild a the building and could mount the HD transmitter on the rebuilt building until the tower was finished. Back before football season he said mid december.

Daryl

After closely monitoring Leno, we do see that the audio is ahead of the video. All other HD programming looks good. We do not process any network programming locally, so the problem is network related.

All network programming originates from New York except Leno. It is fed from NBC Burbank. I will contact NBC and attempt to pursuade them that they have issues.

Tower Info-

All of the bent members have been replaced (except for the climbing ladder and elevator guide) We then added the additional leg bracing in various sections for structural enhancement. The crew then moved to the KMTV tower to hang Warren's transmission line and antenna. When the crew returns, we will be pulling our transmission line apart for repairs, then hang the DTV antenna. Last we will replace the 6 guy wires. Shooting for Dec 1, if not sooner for DTV transmission.

Jay

I think the Temp DTV plan is off for Ch. 7. It will most likelly be a year for Ch. 7, but great news about Ch. 6.

Steve,

Did you ever find out if the sir-ts351 will do qam? I had mine in for repair and they said that qam support had been disabled. PRior I heard that qam was there, but not supported.

Daryl

I called Cox twice this week and tried to get someone to tell me the QAM channel equivalents and both times they tried to sell me a STB. That coupled with the fact that they didn't know anything, really p'd me off.

You'd think for the $140 / month I'm already paying COX that they would be a LITTLE more willing to help out their customers with issues like this. But no, they are more concerned about selling you a STB so they can suck another $15/20 a month out of my pocketbook. NOT GONNA HAPPEN !

WAKE UP COX and treat your customers right!!!

====

Here are the channels that someone else posted in Sept. If there are any others please feel free to add to this list.

Great board here!! Thanks.

85.03 - Starz Theater
101.07 - Sports Classics
107.01 - CBS
107.02 - NETV
108.01 - ABC
108.02 - NBC

All,

I don't want to steal Warrens thunder but to clarify what's happening with KETV's tower replacement I'll para-phrase a letter I received from KETV earlier this week.

KETV stated earlier this week that the current temporary antenna solution will be for analog only. At one time there was a thought of putting the DTV antenna on a 100ft tower and broadcasting low power to Omaha. However, after engineering review they found the combination of tower height and low broadcast power to be insufficient to cover the Omaha area. KETV is currently negotiating tower replacement with a possible tower build out by November 2004. Once the new tower has been erected then DTV broadcasts would resume.

Regards,

John

Thats the info I've received as well.

DTV will go on the new tower first, and then the Analog would be moved back over.

Looks like another year to wait.

No QAM support at this point on the Samsung SIRT351, but that might change later on.

I'm keeping on them, but no news to date.

S.K.

So Samsung is advertising their 351 as having QAM, but in fact it does not?
How can this be legal? I'd think a note to the FTC would be in order.

I guess I won't upgrade then!

We've stopped ordering them until they have a fix.

I guess they work on some QAM systems, but not all.

We've checked both COX and Time Warner in Lincoln, neither work.

I'll post more as I find out more.

When constructing a two antenna set up, which is popular in Lincoln (OMaha channels one direction, Lincoln channels the other) is there a special connector you need to use, as opposed to a standard over-the-counter splitter from Radio Shack?
I know those have one "IN" and two "OUT", but I didn't know if you use those. I also notice things like 6db on the "OUT". I wondered if that actually meant anything important.

Sometimes lingo is put there to "help" the consumer know which way is in and out, and other times it's just to look spiffy.

Very good question Dave. It seems the proposed solutions are more expensive than they should be. Filters, chokes etc... It's just common Radio Shack stuff, isn't it?

Dave, depending on where we install our two antenna solution dictates on if we use a splitter backwards or a tap. On either type on install we put channel 8 and 10 filters for the omaha side before feeding it into the splitter or tap. The reason is to prevent ghosting since both antenna do get both channels 8 and 10.

On a two way splitter you should see 3.5dB. That is the amout of loss when you feed a signal through. It doesn't matter which way. So if you have a meter and it reads 68 dB from the antenna then after the splitter it will be around 64.5dB.

On a tap the number will vary but the same applies. Which every port the number is at the port will drop that number of dB. The other two ports won't have a loss across them.

Hope that helps.

Shawn

For those with Cox HDTV, are you seeing intermittent pixelization/dropouts with INHD1 and INHD2? The rest of my HD channels are perfect, but I'm having problems with these two, how about you?

mooneycj

mooneycj,

I have seen the same. I have been disappointed with the quality of those two channels in general.

I too have seen the same intermittent pixelation on INHD1 and INHD2.

I had previsouly ran my cable line through a 1:4 powered splitter, and when doing so the pixelation was constant on INHD1 and INHD2 and was unwatchable. After I ran the line directly to the STB the INHD channels came in fine, with only the occasional pixelation. What does this mean? I don't know, maybe my splitter was injecting too much noise on those frequencies or something. But I do plan on playing around with the cable configuration over the next few days to see if I can get a nice channel.

All the other HD channels look great; no complaints.

Now if they would only turn on the Firewire and DVI

Ditto here. I have the same pixelation problems with the InHD channels as well, and do not notice any similar issues on any of the other HD channels.

I too have noticed pixelation on both INHD channels. Not so much that they are unwatchable, but it is noticable. I switched from a 5100 to 6200 converter without any improvement.

If running the lines directly helped the problem, but when you put the splitter back in-line you started having problems, you should use an Amplified Digital Cable Compatible splitter, or a Good 10-15 db Digital Cable Compatible Amplifier infront of your 4-way splitter.

You hit it on the head, certain freq. will respond differently, but boosting the signal will help.

I'm still getting pixelization problems from INHD1 and INHD2 (822 and 823). A Clockwork Orange was good a couple of nights ago, but was just trying to watch the re-run of the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert and the breakups are terrible. Is ANYONE getting these cleanly from Cox thru the Motorola 6200??

mooneycj

The last two days were bad. In fact, it was not limited to HD channels. I noticed it Saturday on Fox Sports Net. Not sure why, but this has happened before. I am still using an HDD200. Strangely, I have not had many problems in a couple of months. I have been receiving Cox HDTV for about 3 years and it seems to have gotten worse as more people are using the service. It shouldn't make a difference.

I believe COX is having problems across their entire spectrum. Saturday we saw numerous dropouts while watching FOXSports Net analog, this was probably uplink related but we'll never know for sure.

From a cable modem perspective we're once again seeing intermittent periods of "Timeout Retries" whenever we ping the local COX gateway. Sometimes the dropouts become so numerous that connectivity to the web and email is slower than dialup.

We call COX out about once a quarter to check signal and noise strengths on our cable drop. They find nothing wrong inside the house or outside. I inform them of how the use of test equipment by their network headend sweeping the rf spectrum causes cable modem problems (something the COX network engineers figured out several years ago when we first experienced this problem) and that they probably need to limit the bandwidth on their frequency sweeps to quit stepping on us cable modem users. We print out a copy of the email string from the COX engineers (details what was found wrong and how they fixed it), give it to the tech, the tech then returns to the shop. Sometimes the timeouts go away for a brief period (month or two), sometimes they don't and we call them out again.

Bottom line is I don't think anyone really knows whats going on at COX and they definitely don't care enough to keep track of changes or to normalize their system after system diagnosis.

John

John, if you are talking about the Fox Sports broadcast of the Husker game, I also had drop outs and that was through DirecTV, so I assume it was source related. It seemed to clear up by the end of the first quarter.

Mike

Has anyone else noticed CBS sound problems on their HD shows?

Last night while watching Still Standing and a CSI:Miami on Cox HD, the volume repetedly (every 5-15 min) became very quiet, only to return to normal volume 4-15 seconds later. Granted this is a small problem, yet still annoying.

I recorded both shows on my PC (via MyHD) and I'll check tonight to see if the volume problem exists on the OTA recordings and report back.

Does anyone here know what changes Cox made to the digital cable program guide on Monday? I got a postcard in the mail that said they were going to be sending an upgraded interactive program guide in the early morning hours of 11/10, but as of this morning I still haven't seen any differences. Any ideas?

Did anyone else notice major pixelation throughout the entire MNF game last night? I called Cox and they said it was happening there, also. Did anyone have audio sync problems as well or is it something on my end?

Huskerfan - I noticed the same problems last night on MNF. I had both pixelation issues and audio sync problems.

Mike,

Yes, the FOX drop outs were on the analog broadcast during the NU Kansas football game. I suspected it was probably on the satellite uplink side, now we know for sure, thanks.

Regarding COX and Toshiba cable modem service dropouts here in Omaha my saga continued last night with an interesting twist. The tech who serviced our call last night was unaware of Cox test equipment problems with regard to Toshiba cable modem users. He went on to state that he replaced several Toshiba's in my neighborhood over the last several days and all exhibited the same problem. Cox is charging each customer $75 for a Motorola replacement.

Once I informed him of Cox's shaded past with regard to their usage of rf test equipment sweeping the bandwidth causing dropout issues I handed him the email thread dating back several years which originated from Cox engineers. He's consulting with his supervisors today, I'm waiting for a return call.

This should be very interesting, does Cox offer me a free Motorola modem and continue to ignore the cause charging other unsuspecting users $75 for a replacement or will they address their operations and remove the generator from their system? Of course they could offer me a third option, ignore the facts as presented in the email thread, in that case I guess I'll cut my Cox off. ;)

I'll keep you posted.

John

KMTV will shut down the Digital transmitter this afternoon so electricians can run a new feed for a transmitter that is being installed in our building.

Cut my Cox off? That doesn't sound so good no matter how you look at it.

Seriously though, Cox is a pain, but I don't see many great options out there. I have never been able to find out a strong technical resource to call at Cox. The people I knew that worked there before are no longer around, so I don't have the access I once did.

I have my phone service with Cox and the alternative Qwap (or Qwest) is more expensive and service is not much better.

I supppose I could move to DSL, but I understand that it is slower than cable.

At this point, my cable bill is less expensive than a satellite alternative. I don't think I could get ESPNHD, Discover HD, INHD 1 & 2, all of my networks in HD and HBO in HD and anolog for $49 per month with no hardware purchase necessary. (Of course this is a bundled price)

Right now am I just going to grin and bear it. But John, if you have a credible contact name within Cox's technical orginization, I would be glad to join in on an email campaign to get things straightened out.

Matt

KMTV-DT is back on the air, however, I will be running only one cabinet (350kW ERP) until sometime tomorrow. I am waiting for a replacement component for a crowbar unit.

Mike,

Glad to hear you're back on the air. Did the hardware integration changes have any direct affect on the operational characteristics of KMTV-DT such as power output?

John

Matt,

No, the reputable contact I once knew within Cox moved on. It's been an entire work week since Cox left my house promising a phone call with a supervisor, I've left messages on several supervisors voice messaging systems at Cox, I don't beleive they asnwer their phones, screen them only. I still have the replacement modem but haven't heard boo from anyone from the technical side of Cox.

At this point if DSL were available at my address I'd move on and not look back.

John

This is a little off the subject of Omaha HDTV but does anybody know what I need to do to switch off the SVM on a Sony KP57WS500 without going to the service menu?

John,

No changes to KMTV-DT. We are back on the air with both cabinets running
a total ERP of 700kW.
We just made room in the building for Warren's temporary analog transmitter.

Mike,

That should bring a smile to Warren's face. I wish him luck and I wonder if Omaha is unique with respect to broadcasters helping each other out during times like these. There seems to be a certain amount of camaraderie among-st you.

Thanks for the update.

John

Any update on WOWT-DT?

This weather is delaying the complete project, but here is what needs to occur for OTA DTV.

We have replaced all the bent members, changed 20 inner conductors of transmission line, hung the NTSC/DTV combiner in the transmitter building, and have assembled the tower top splitter on the ground. This week, we are waiting for the final drawings on where we will place the tower top splitter for the NTSC/DTV antennas. While that is occuring, the crew was going to fix the elevator guide, and start the guy wire replacement. They wanted to replace the three guys on each level simultaneously, but the structural engineer flagged that as an issue. They now need to replace each wire independently, thus each wire should take a full day. Once those are replaced, the crew can move their rigging so they can re-hang the DTV antenna. (the rigging is located where the antenna was previously installed)

In short, I was hoping for Dec 1, but I don't think Nebraska will receive 10 straight days of nice rainfree, non-windy days.

Jay

Thanks for the update.

Originally posted by WOWT
They now need to replace each wire independently, thus each wire should take a full day.

Better safe than sorry! I can wait! :D

M

I saw that Dish has locals for Omaha now. I live in Lincoln. Anyone have dish? What locals can you actually get? At least wowt?

thanks!

Brian

No you can not get Omaha locals in Lincoln. Lincoln and Omaha are two different DMA's. There is hope that Lincoln may (and I say may nothing is for sure yet) go up on DISH sometime in Q1 of 2004. If that happens the Lincoln DMA consists of Lincoln, Grand Island, and Hastings. So the NBC would come from Grand Island.

Shawn

Anyone else notice more noise since they upgraded the guide? On my analog channels I am seeing some pink noise at the top of my screen. Digital/HD channels are fine, just the analog are giving me problems. I checked the picture going straight into the TV and it is fine. Might be time to call Cox.

Brian,

The NE locals Dishnetwork currently carries are all analog, standard definition 480i, don't expect to see HDTV locals anytime soon. If you have a Dishnetwork HD receiver and if you own a camper/RV you can request a waiver to receive network programming from Dishnetwork. Currenlty Dishnetwork carries the national CBS feed in HD. You then could opt to receive the national CBS feed from the east coast (NY) or the west coast (LA).

John

Is it me, or has KPTMs digital signal pretty much gone away?

Mike

We need a webcam aimed at the tower so we can check for progress :)

Will the HDTV antenna be placed at the same height at before? I get all confused as to who had what, where. I believe WOWT had it part way up the tower at a low power. It came into Lincoln really nicely.
We're set for BS (C-BS and P-BS) now all we need is some BC (N-BC and eventually A-BC).
WB 38 blinks my HDTV light on my reciever but no signal. I got the same on 43 when 42 was off air too. Not all that important yet, since they aren't doing HD yet.

Is KM3 HD feeding the same signal to Cox as it is sending OTA?

I ask because on several occasions the OTA has not been in HD, most recently Saturday's LSU-Miss football game. I called about half way through the 1st quarter to let them know the HD wasn't being passed through. After that it was in HD.

I'm surprised more people haven't noticed this OTA, or they don't see it because they are getting a different feed from Cox cable.

It seems like KMTVs digital signal has gone way down...or is it just me or my receiver? This is OTA...anyone else experiencing this? I've gone to watching KOLN (CBS) out of Lincoln because I'm not getting KMTVs.

Mike

I get Koln TV CBS over there air here in Papillion OK at night.

Will I also be able to get the DTV HDTV feed from Papillion since I can get there Channel 10?

Or is there DTV signal not broadcasting with the same power?

Anyone else getting Koln Lincoln CBS in HD on the north side of the Platte river (Sarpy County)?

Here is a new Idea.

Since KeTV 7 is not doing OTA HDTV as there tower is down, can any one get the Lincoln Big 8 Channel in HD? I asked there Engineer and He made it sound like it was low power and only for Lancaster county.

I cant Get Cox Cable to see the KETV HDTV so I am looking at other options to get ABC in HD

Ideas

NO ABC HDTV in Omaha for a Year unless you pay for Cox Cable- not fair?

It sounds like for KETV to get OTA DTV the owners would needs to spends some extra $$$$ for a Temp Solution. It looks like they do not want to spend this money as there ABC HDTV can be seen on Cox Cable. This sounds like a wise business choice assuming everyone has Cox Cable.

I bet if there were more complaints to KETV about not getting HDTV and thet MANY others are pulling the Lincoln ABC channel instead of watching there channel- that the owners may then want to spend the extra $$$ to put up a Temp DTV signal.

A year is long time to wait for something that some say is required by FCC law for this market area ABC in DTV.

Do the owners of KETV know about the many customers wanting ABC HDTV and dont have Cox or dont want to pay Cox, and that do not want to wait for a year?

Its all abount the money. The Fine Engineers at KETV could, Im sure come up with a good Temp Solution if the funding was there.

Is there anything we can do to help out KETV with there funding issue?
Donations? Letters to the Owners? IDeas?

================Pasted Pev. email=========
KETV stated earlier this week that the current temporary antenna solution will be for analog only. At one time there was a thought of putting the DTV antenna on a 100ft tower and broadcasting low power to Omaha. However, after engineering review they found the combination of tower height and low broadcast power to be insufficient to cover the Omaha area. KETV is currently negotiating tower replacement with a possible tower build out by November 2004. Once the new tower has been erected then DTV broadcasts would resume.
============

How about paying for the tower yourself?

With the tower crew cutting loose for the Holiday, we will make the final cut-over of our 'Shared-line T" on Tuesday, Dec 2 (I've been summoned for jury duty on Dec 1 so I might not be there for the big day. I've already had it postponed once when the tower issues began) We will run on our back-up transmitter while they re-route the transmission line through the combiner and splitter. If everything goes well, we should be on the air with HDTV on Tuesday or Wednesday night.

Jay

Great news Jay! Any word on the power level you'll be hitting the sky with, and the coverage area expected?

Before we removed our antenna, we were operating at 24Kw. We will increase our ERP to 80Kw with the utilization of a larger transmission line. I haven't ran the numbers on the coverage yet.

Jay

Great news.

On the subject of (complaining about) KETV, I personally feel as though they are doing just about everything that can be done at this point. I don't recall the actual numbers, but the hybrid antenna alone to broadcast both HD and SD signals takes many, many months to manufacture. Not to mention that there are probably many other TV stations in front of KETV on the hybrid antenna queue, so that's got to slow things down as well. Plus trying to find non-windy days to rebuild the tower, along with a million other issues, means a slow recovery from bad luck.

If it were a case of KETV just refusing to do it, I'd be critical too... but I think we have to be somewhat sympathetic to the plight of KETV. They ordered the hybrid antenna early, waited many months, only to have it crushed under the tower collapse. I'd say we are incredibly lucky, compared to other communities, that our big 3 plus PBS have been busting their asses for the last few years to get HD going here. There are many communities (check out Des Moines for example) that are suffering through their stations sitting on their hands until the last possible moment.

And we're lucky to have Cox in our community. Their efforts have been great in the last 6 months to bring us just about everything there is to offer in HD broadcasts.

Cut the guy some slack. It's only TV.

Jeff

This is mostly directed to Shawn with Zagers, but this is my problem. I live on the south edge of Omaha. I was getting the Omaha stations (station?) with a Zenith Silver Sensor indoor antenna without any problems. I was preparing to move my entertainment center to the basement, so I decided I probably needed an outdoor antenna. I installed a Channel Master 4228, which is facing towards the Lincoln area, in order to pick up KXVO/KPTM and it also gets KOLN great digitally. I never thought to see how my reception of KMTV would be, assuming incorrectly that it would be great since I'm so close. I've since found out that because the CM antenna is so directional that it can't pick up KMTV. It is mounted on the south side of my house, and is not line-of-sight of the KMTV tower, but has a clear shot towards Lincoln. My Silver Sensor still picks up KMTV great...even in my basement. Is it possible to use both antennas without using an A/B switch? Someone told me about a 'combiner', where I can utilize both antennas. Is this a good solution?

Thanks for any help!

Mike

Combining two antennas:

http://www.tvantenna.com/support/tutorials/combining.html

I've got 2 CM4221'S combined, 1 toward Omaha, 1 toward KOLN tower using a good 2-way splitter, the $10.00 type, no the $2.00 type. You may need to PAD down the Omaha some with some in-line PADS, but that depends on your area. You should be able to get in-line PADS at RS. My location is in North Lincoln.

PADS = ?

Female coax on 1 end and male on the other, that plugs in line with one or the other antenna lead.

Radio shack should have them.

They come in -3db / -6db / -10db etc...

I went to Radio Shack looking for the Pads.

They looked at me funny.

Do they go by a different name or part number?

I am trying to get Koln and the OMaha stations from S. Papillion.

I can get Lincoln fine when I tweak to Lincoln but them it messes up the Omaha stations.

suretytek,

I am cutting the guy some slack. He is one of the best around and is doing wonders with what he has.

I am not cutting the Big Company Owners. If they gave the guy everything he needed funding wise the problem would be much easeir to fix for the Temp Analog and Dtv solutions.

He is not getting the needed funding from the guys in the suites.

Scott, they are probably called signal attenuators...or something along those lines.

Mike

Mike, What Steve is talking about is right. Just use a good 2 way splitter backwards to combine the two antennas. Try that first then see if you will need a attenuators to knock one of them down.

It sounds like everyone else got you covered.

Shawn

Anyone in Omaha getting the Miami vs Dallas game in Hd? This game should be in Hd.

It wasn't in HD at first, but it is now. WOOHOO!

Mike


Also, Shawn, I tried that...used a good Winegard splitter backwards, and it killed the signal, basically. Are there differences between a splitter used backwards and a combiner?

Thanks again!

I called the Kmtv newsline and told them the game was in Hd, and they responded and the game was in Hd, My question is,someone have to manually switch on hd programing? Or was this a auto programming error?

Any one ever notice just how BAD that Coxes channels WB15 and FOX 42 are on the Cable?

I have looked at two different houses in two different parts of towm on Big Screens.

Do these two channels have a DTV signal over the air?

Any word on when Cox will be adding it to there HDTV line up? I know they dont have any HDTV yet, but there DTV signal has got to look much better if they have one.

Both KPTM and KXVO are OTA digital. KPTM is digital 43 and KXVO is digital 38.

Mike

Does anyone have an updated list of both QAM and ATSC channel numbers for all possible channels that someone can get in the Omaha metro area?

Thanks.


Doug

I am new to this, but this info sounds important.

What are the QAM and ATSC channel numbers used fro anyway.

Will I need to set them in my new Dish HD Box for ota?

In a nutshell, ATSC channel numbers would be the UHF equivalent number plus any subchannel designations for OTA.
For example, Channel 3 would be 45-1. NETV has -1 -2 -3 -5 -6 & -7 depending on the programming selection. For example in Lincoln it would be 40-1 or when broadcasting HDTV 40-5.

QAM is what Cable TV uses to broadcast High Definition channels. If your box accepts QAM, it's important to know the actual channel, as Channel 111 on Cable will not be Channel 111 QAM. It might be 79.11

QAM isn't necessary and subscription channels, such as HBO will require the cable companies set top box.

Do you guys drop power at 8pm? Your digital signal generally looks great until 8 and then things start locking up out here in Mo Valley. I couldn't watch Raymond on Monday because it kept freezing on me.
Seems to happen pretty regualrly up here, is it me?
Thanks
Mike Plews

Jay w/WOWT:

How's the DTV coming along? Will we be watching OTA digital this week?

Mike

The crew went up yesterday, and determined that the 50MPH wind at 1200ft. was too high to handle 20ft. sections of 6 1/8" rigid transmission line. Today looks bad due to icing at that level. Hoping for tomorrow.

The good news-we spent the day fine tuning the NTSC/DTV combining network inside of the building. Everything is ready to go on that end. We only need one more day of climbing weather!

Jay

Good news, Jay.

Tell those guys to be careful up there!!

M

Originally posted by mroot
Both KPTM and KXVO are OTA digital. KPTM is digital 43 and KXVO is digital 38.

Mike

Is anyone able to receive these 2 channels OTA? They are listed in my guide, but I am not getting any programming.. Just wondering if they are not broadcasting yet, or if I need to adjust the antenna.


-Tim

I hear that the Fiber is ran to Channel 3 for the Direct TV uplink.

I know Direct will not be doing HDTV locals for Omaha, but does that at least mean that the KM3 feed to Direct TV will be 100% Digital since its from there site?

Will Channels 7 feed to direct TV also be all digitial since they are using channel 3 tower right now and they are already there?

I know DishNetwork pulls some of the stations in with an over the air antenna and then they send it via Fiber to there uplink center. Some times these do not look the best. I think Dishnetworks is located at the down Town channel 7 location.

Any update on Direct TV locals? Last I heard was they ran out of Sat space and they cant add any more channels till there new sat is launched next year (spring)

Last thing that I had heard was that DirecTV would be adding Omaha 1Q04, with the launch of the new sat.

1" of ice at the 1200ft. level of the tower pushes our HDTV work until Saturday. (high winds are expected on Friday) Sorry for the delay

Jay

Dont' worry. Keep it safe! Besides, if anybody in radio or Tv ever hit a projected deadline all sorts of rumors would start flying! LOL

I just have this image of people with HDTV boxes staring at the box, tuned to 22, waiting for the dot to light up so they can be the first to post a signal report.
Gotta love being an 'early adopter'. You think in 10 years we'll be this excited?

How is your custom antenna working for the Lincoln area? I have a neighbor installing Dish and he is going to need OTA HD via an antenna.

I ask here for the benefit of others that may need an antenna system.

Originally posted by Nolesfn
Is anyone able to receive these 2 channels OTA? They are listed in my guide, but I am not getting any programming.. Just wondering if they are not broadcasting yet, or if I need to adjust the antenna.


-Tim

Yes, I am getting both channels OTA...using a multidirectional antenna on my chimney. I am getting both at about 93% signal strength, but on occasions, KPTM has some drop out. I may need to wait for a nice day and do a little fiddling.

Mike

Could you please post details on your Multi Ant config for Lincoln and Omaha.


1. Estimation on where you live

2. Type of Anttennas

3. All Coax? Or thin wire up near the two anntennas

4. What kind of Amp

other details.

Many other may want to do this. More HDTV is always better as after Prime time there is always unique programming in DTV

My location in South East Lincoln near 27th & Highway 2.

My poles go up 35 feet from the ground. I simply didn't want to deal with a roof mount and I think it looks better from the street. Height is important for anything of distance. I chose to go with a rotor, simply to eliminate problems with "ghosting" which can goof up digital.

I use a Radio Shack 15-2160 UHF only directional. It's a nice compact antenna that doesn't draw attention to itself. If I were to do it again, i'd go with a Channel Master of similar design. This Radio Shack antenna seems a bit flimsy. Over the long haul, I'm not confident it will weather as well. It claims a range up to 75 miles. The actual distance depends on conditions. I've pulled in stuff from Kansas City, Grand Island, and Sioux Falls but that's abnormal. Most stations are still on minimal power, so I was somewhat impressed by the performance in that respect. This particular antenna is VERY directional, but very stable when oriented toward the signal.
I did go all out and got the Channel Master rotor, which has remote control and uses compass azimuth (0-360) for figuring out the direction. If the tower is located at 142 degrees, I punch 142 into the keypad and the antenna rotates to that direction. Very handy and consistent. This unit also has a memory, so you can memorize channel 22's best location, punch in 22, and it will aim it back where you set it.
I also use the Channel Master 7775 pre-amp on the mast, which is intended for UHF and VHF. I wanted flexibility in the event some of these digital channels ended up on VHF eventually. I can simply add a VHF antenna to the mast and hook into the pre-amp (It comes with an option to use seperate VHF/UHF antenna inputs...also has a nice FM trap, which is helpful since I'm near 2 full power FM's). This configuration requires that I use Coax. I got some nice R6 with it's own grounding wire.

I'm satisfied with it. I get Lincoln and Omaha except for KXVO and KPTM which are directional back toward Omaha. (My light will blink as if it sees a signal it's trying to decode though). Channel 6 & 7 came in nicely so all of my bases are covered.


For those interested in figuring out azimuth, got to the following link. You can plug in your lat & long, and it will calculate it for you.
http://www.dxfm.com/Content/spreadsheet_info.htm

I got fancy and went to the terra server and pinpointed my lat and long from my home address, but that's time consuming.

WOWT-DT is apparantly back up.

I'm getting it great.

I'm getting WOWT-DT in Lincoln. I'm getting a 60-61 signal on my Dish Network 811. KM3-DT is coming in at about 78 signal strength.

Way to go WOWT!

Impressive! I figured it wasn't going to be warm enough today.
(now maybe Time Warner will put it on cable ASAP, since they have it listed as "coming soon".
Looks like WOWT got everything up just in time for a nice winter storm.

The engineer I know at Time Warner indicated that it will be up as soon as they can receive a stable signal. She will also be getting me the QAM frequency for the QAM clear ch. Discovery will be part of the Digital subscriber package, but not in the Clear, so you'll need to be a digital subscriber and have a box. The new 3250 box is out, and has many advantages over the 3100HD box.

Jay, What strength are you broadcasting at?

Great job by the way.

I had to bribe the tower crew with all the "Famous Dave's and beverages" that they could consume, but we completed 90% of the task today. This morning, there was so much ice, they couldn't hook their safety belts to the ladder.

We still have work to complete, and will be taking the HD system off tomorrow (daytime) to fine tune the antenna. Currently running at 60Kw ERP.

I just arrived from the transmitter and was curious if anyone noticed that we were back up. Thanks for the positive feedback and for being patient with the progress!

Jay
WOWT

everyting looks good today.

Both 3, 6, and 7 all look almost like HDTV while using my 65" in standard def.

If there was anything bad in the signal the 65" TV would of shown it.

Great work everyone.

Steve,

What are the advantages??
Can I exchange my 3100 for a 3250, or do I have to jump through some hoops with TW???

Both Optical and Coaxial Digital outputs, DVI Output, (I'm assuming it is active). Dual analog Audio outputs. Aspect Ratio control. Multi output Scan Rates, 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i. It acutally downconverts HD content, and outputs it on the S-Video. When you pull up the guide, the HD picture goes into the PIP, instead of going to preview audio and a black picture. The Digital audio output works for channels 2-72, as well as all of the digital channels, unlike all of the other boxes that you need analog connected as well. I'm sure their are other features that I'm leaving out but I've outlined the main ones.

I would think you can go exchange, but I'm not sure of their availability. I'd just say you need the new box due to compatibilty issues.

Waiting for the Dishnetwork HDTV Tivo Like release of the 921 (it can record HD on Dish and OTA).

Tonight at 8PM on Channel 101 on Dishnetwork.

The 921 is like the "lite version" of the HDTV Direct TIvo that is due out in April.

I just had a new Sony 34XBR910 delivered this weekend and have it connected to the SA 3250D cable box, through both the component inputs and the S-Video input. I don't think the DVI output is connected, as the documentation says "for future use" (I don't have a DVI cable or I'd try it out). The aspect ratio control is not as good as what Sony provides and if you use only the HD output of the SA box you can't use the DRC on the Sony, so I get a better SD picture off of the S-Video output. At this point, the SA box does not output the cable guide to the SD outputs, but only the HD output (TW says SA is working on this problem). The digital audio, is indeed, available on all cahnnels.

I was able to easily exchange my old digital box for the new one at no charge and TW told me last week they were available.

Cliff

Originally posted by st30247
Both Optical and Coaxial Digital outputs, DVI Output, (I'm assuming it is active). Dual analog Audio outputs. Aspect Ratio control. Multi output Scan Rates, 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i. It acutally downconverts HD content, and outputs it on the S-Video. When you pull up the guide, the HD picture goes into the PIP, instead of going to preview audio and a black picture. The Digital audio output works for channels 2-72, as well as all of the digital channels, unlike all of the other boxes that you need analog connected as well. I'm sure their are other features that I'm leaving out but I've outlined the main ones.

I would think you can go exchange, but I'm not sure of their availability. I'd just say you need the new box due to compatibilty issues.

Originally posted by ScottChez
Waiting for the Dishnetwork HDTV Tivo Like release of the 921 (it can record HD on Dish and OTA).

Tonight at 8PM on Channel 101 on Dishnetwork.

The 921 is like the "lite version" of the HDTV Direct TIvo that is due out in April.

Why do you say it is the "lite version"? Nobody has seen either yet?

Thanks for your input. I figured the S-Video would look better, it normally does on Non-HD Content. Hopefully they fix the Guide issue soon.

Wil the cable guide work on the yellow analog cable to an AV1 input? The 3100 works just fine in that regard.

(They put my S-Video connector on the side of my TV, and the entertainment center is just wide enough to take the set...so I can't use S-video.)

I haven't tested it, I just know that the S-Vid currently doesn't output the Guide. It would make sence that none of the 480i outputs are working currently, however.

Does anyone else have an audio issue with CBS HDTV football games OTA? I get a lot of stadium noise, and can barely hear the announcers at times. I do not get this problem with the CBS DTV football broadcasts. Thanks.

I'm getting KM3-DT OTA. Audio is only Pro Logic and not 5.1

The announcers are there though.

Originally posted by rjk9
Does anyone else have an audio issue with CBS HDTV football games OTA? I get a lot of stadium noise, and can barely hear the announcers at times. I do not get this problem with the CBS DTV football broadcasts. Thanks.

Yes, I get the same thing. I end up having to crank up the center channel, or reduce the volume on the back speakers.

Mike

NEW HD Channels on Cox?

I read on other boards that other cable companies are now offering:

1. Starz-HD
2. The Movie Channel-HD.
3. Cinemax-HD i
4. Bravo-HD will be out for the Summer Olympics.
5. HDnet
6. HDnet Movies
7. IOWA PBS in DTV and or HDTV
8. Fox 42 DTV
9. WB 15 DTV
And many PPV HD channels

AND a new HD PVR (Tivo like box).

Any one know if Cox is planning to add more?

Also what about Fox and WB in D-TV. Why is that not on today, its OTA?

In an earlier post someone said
Here's the QAM channels i found on Cox:

85.03 - Starz Theater
101.07 - Sports Classics
107.01 - CBS
107.02 - NETV
108.01 - ABC
108.02 - NBC

Does this mean the Starz is now on Cox in HD?

Thinking of switching to Direct TV, but if Cox had much more, maybe ?

Here is the complete list of the 40 HDTV channel avialable to cable:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/forum/files/hd_service_channels_1.6.pdf

Here is the link to Cox showing that they do already carry Bravo AND UPN in HD at there home office.

http://www.cox.com/cleveland/HDTV/HDTVmain.asp

When do they plan to add more? THey have the bandwidth that DBS does not have. What is the delay?

Scott, which "other " cable companies are you referring too????

Any update on the Omaha Locals on Direct TV?

I just picked up the new TWC SA box. Lovely features! More lovely once they get the guide to work in all viewing modes. I needed the digital optical too!
I'm very pleased TW in their efforts to upgrade cable, make Cable modems available, keep on top of HDTV technology, etc. I know 60 miles up the Interstate life isn't so good.

Hmmm...NETV HD/Sesame Street sounds weird with Big Bird in my center channel!

"when I was a boy, we listened out of a tiny speaker, in mono..."

Looks like Direct TV is almost ready for Omaha. They plan to move some Spot beam channels around in Jan.

Once Omahas local receive Office is on this list we should be close.

I understand the Fiber is there and the room is set.

Here is the link

http://www.directv.com/lrf/lrf.html

I wonder if they will carry UPN and WB?

BTW, I wasn't receiving Law and Order in HD OTA last night. I wonder why.

M

I have asked Direct TV about UPN.

They said that there is NO over the air UPN in Omaha and that Cox Bought all the rights for there O2 TV UPN.

Since it is only on cable there is no way to get a UPN feed for OMaha and that they do not offer a national UPN like Dishentwork does (there superstation package).

Sounds like a UPN monopoly in Omaha. I want to watch Star Trek (its only on UPN).

Argh....Enterprise is the only reason for keeping my Cox Basic, once DirecTV carries the locals. ARGH! (My wife is a big fan). Hehe.

Mike

Is there any known way to incorporate a VCR into a digital mix?
I have my OTA on component 1 my Cable Box and DVD shared on component 2 thanks to two inputs on my home theatre, but for old fashioned RCA out I have to hit a bunch of buttons on my TV.
I didn't know if there was a device that would convert RCA to Component video.
At least this way I could put everything on a single component video swith (Those boxes that handle 4 component inputs). Perhaps the days of the VCR are indeed doomed!

Again, no HDTV on WOWT OTA last night?

What's the deal?

M

Dave,

Check out the JVC or Mitsubishi High Definition VCRs. They'll record high def and both have component video out.

Doug

Does anyone know if tonight's broadcast of The regional semis is going to be in HD?

Cliff

Actually, the JVC VCR is the only one with Component Video outputs. The Mits is just a Bit-Stream recorder, it doesn't have the MPEG decoder inside. Neither have Component inputs, they use Firewire to get the MPEG signal in and out of the machine, but in order to use the Mits, your TV has to have the MPEG Decoder in it and have 2 way firewire ports.
As far as getting signal into either of the units, you need a Cable Box, OTA Box, or Satellite reciever that has Firewire Outputs. The cable companies have agreed to make these available at some point, but who knows when? There are only a couple of over the air boxes that would connect to these VCR's as well. Samsung & Mitsubishi make an OTA box, but the Mits is a full fledge switching Receiver runs $1499.00, and the samsung is around $600 and both are only good for OTA recording. It looks like PVR's will be one solution for time shifting, and hopefully Cable companies will offer FireWire soon.

One other thought for recording digital, however, if you have the new Cable Box from Time Warner (3250HD), it at least outputs the HD programs at a SD level, (S-Video/Composite/RF), so at least you could record them at VHS quality and be able to play them back. The Box actually outputs them in a letterbox style, so you could record them w/ letterboxing, and then zoom out the letterboxing upon playback.

As far as converters, I've seen Compsite to S-Video, but not up to Component. A lot of new A/V receivers however, have upconverters within them. So you can not only Switch 2 Ins to 1 out, but all of the other inputs get upconverted to Component so you could have a single wire over to your TV.

Dave
You could Line Double the VCR's signal and get a Progressive output, 480P, but it would be hardly worth the investment w/ VHS as the source, but used in conjunction with a 4-1 Comp Switch might take care of it for you.

iScan converters / Switchers are around $500 on up.

Check out http://www.dvdo.com/

Is the WOWT no HDTV just with Over the Air or is it missing on Cox cable also?

WOWT was in HD last night, at least Leno was. I think the ER was an older one that was presented in widescreen, but not HD, so you get Black bars all the way around the picture. The WOWT-HD logo was being sent out. The Thursday night line-up is not a very good one for HD on NBC.

Originally posted by st30247
WOWT was in HD last night, at least Leno was. I think the ER was an older one that was presented in widescreen, but not HD, so you get Black bars all the way around the picture. The WOWT-HD logo was being sent out. The Thursday night line-up is not a very good one for HD on NBC.

ER was not in HD last night on Cox--and it was not a rerun. There were a number of digital glitches in the picture during the first 10 minutes. We finally switched over to analog to watch without the glitches. I checked back several times during the show and it was never in HD.

Is this problem only on Over the Air or does it go out on Cox Cable also?

Is the Cox cable feed direct via FIber?

The only way that I've seen to record actual component video is with W-VHS VCRs. They are WAY expensive ($2500+), and the tapes start at $30 each. The other downside (besides expense) is that the W-VHS standard only supports two channels of audio.

I think the biggest issue with recording via component video is that it is an uncompressed video stream that requires a TON of space to record. It's "easier" to grab the compressed stream via firewire and record it in a compressed form, than it is to grab the uncompressed signals over component and try to either compress it back on the fly or just have a very high bandwidth deck to be able to do something with the signal.

Do a search on ebay for W-VHS. Interesting stuff.

Jeff

An other way to record HDTV is with Dishnetworks 921 Tivo like recorder due out this Month (press release confirmed) and the new HDTV Direct Tivo due out in April.

This technology is so new. Everyone wants it, but its not out yet. Hard to wait . . . .

Yes, the 921 should be available very soon, and they just announced that they moved HBO and Showtime and Pay per view over to work with Dish 500, so customer's won't need 2 dishes anymore to get all of Dish Network's HD programming. I might add, that the 921 is designed to dump its content onto the JVC D-VHS Digital VCR through the Fire-Wire port, so when the Hard drive of the 921 gets close to full, you can archive it to D-VHS.

Originally posted by st30247
I might add, that the 921 is designed to dump its content onto the JVC D-VHS Digital VCR through the Fire-Wire port, so when the Hard drive of the 921 gets close to full, you can archive it to D-VHS.

This is a feature that won't be enabled at launch. It's anybody's guess when it will be enabled.

Interesting...

CBS (at least 10/11) is running regular programming on NTSC but they punted 60 minutes on HDTV because the football game went late and went right into the "Survivor" grand 3 hour finale. SO HDTV is running an hour ahead.

Does anyone know if WOWT is broadcasting their guide info for OTA yet. I am not currently receiving it. If their not , does anyone know when?

Thanks

Cox cable in Cleavland now has Bravo HD added for Free to the HD Pack.

Cox cable in Phoenix Az now has HBO West and East added.

Any word on Cox adding these here in Omaha?

What about Starz HD which just went up on the main Sats last week?

For the Lincoln Area.

WOWT-DT is on Ch. 106 on the box, and Ch. 90.2 using your QAM tuner.

That gives TWC viewers 3 in the clear channels, and 10 total Channels, when they get the box. So its coming along.

Go here to see a complete listing in the Lincoln area:

http://www.schaeferstv.com/updates/Digital_TV_Stations/cablesatellitedigitalstationsupdate.htm


FYI

Soon my OTA box will be obsolete!
Any idea if TW plans on carrying KETV HD when it returns, or are we going to have to wait for KLKN?

I thought KLKN was up already, the engineer there sounded like maybe he was on low power on D-TV though.

Any one getting it?

It's up in Standard Def, at about 3kw's from a low tower in Lincoln.

I think they will wait for KLKN?

I'll check though, but hopefully KLKN will be HD by the time KETV is?

We'll see.

Will there ever be UPN in HDTV?

Cox could add it to there HD Line up so we can watch Star Trek in HD?

Is anyone else having problems with reception on WOWT? I am having problems getting a decent picture due to low signal stregnth ( I have a Winegard..

I live off 48th and Giles at the bottom of the hill and having bad OTA reception, didnt know if they were not broadcasting much power, or if I should switch antennas.

KMTV comes in at 100%, but WOWT is only at about 35-40%

I'm getting WOWT-DT just fine. Its signal isn't as strong as KMTV, but it's there. They aren't transmitting at a real large signal, but you should be able to receive them ok.

I just wonder why, night-after-night, when watching Leno, the video is never in sync with the audio!!! What is up with that????

Mike

I am trying to convince NBC that they have a problem with Leno. Since all other network programming is fine, I would guess they have an issue with the fiber link between Burbank and New York. Network doesn't respond quickly when affiliates tell them they have technical problems.

Jay

Is anyone else having problems with the HD channels on Cox? Last night I watched "Threat Matrix" on KETV-DT and "CSI" on KMTV-DT. There were a number of times that the picture froze and even more times where there was MPEG picture dropouts (I don't know how to describe it any better than that). Everything was good when I first got my DCT6200 receiver a couple months ago. I'm wondering if this is a system-wide Cox problem, a localized Cox problem or a problem somewhere in my house. Anybody have any ideas?

Originally posted by WOWT
I would guess they have an issue with the fiber link between Burbank and New York.

Jay

Being that light travels faster than sound, maybe their lag adjuster is out of sync and needs to be re-calibrated.

;)

Originally posted by Nolesfn
Is anyone else having problems with reception on WOWT? I am having problems getting a decent picture due to low signal stregnth ( I have a Winegard..

I live off 48th and Giles at the bottom of the hill and having bad OTA reception, didnt know if they were not broadcasting much power, or if I should switch antennas.

KMTV comes in at 100%, but WOWT is only at about 35-40%

I am having the same problem. I get CBS at 90%, PBS at 60%, and NBC at 50% in Papillion. CBS comes in near perfectly, but nothing for PBS and NBC. About a month ago, I could get PBS at 80%, but not anymore.

Jay-

Any possibility that the output power will be increased in the near future for OTA reception?

I know you have been doing everything possible to get the transmission back up, but being able to watch it would be great! :p

lymanepp:

Yes, I'm also having some problems with some of the Cox HD channels. I'm seeing some intermittent breakup and lockup on 808 and 809 (NBC and ABC). CBS has been perfect for me.

The 808 and 809 problems are new. Up until a couple of weeks ago they were fine. I used to have similar breakup problems with 822 and 823 (INHD 1 and 2), now they are fine and the problem has shifted to the two lower channels (808 and 809). BTW, I get HBO, SHO, ESPN and Disc HD perfectly (as well as CBS).

I called Cox after ER Thursday night was basically unwatchable. They reset my box, but there was no change. Whats interesting is that even the local stuff that is not HD (ie the 10:00 PM news) has intermittent breakups on 808 and 809.

Lastly, when I go into the setup mode (hit the center setup button right after switching the 6200 off, then go to inbound and outbound settings), channels 808 and 809 aren't showing any more noncorrectable errors than the other channels. This leads me to believe that it's a system problem with Cox.

I'm also seeing some "flicker" with the analog channels thru the 6200. Fortunately I don't really watch the analog channels much so it's not a big deal.

mooneycj

My grand father had this same problem.

After 5 calls there Sr. Tech came out along with 3 others.

Turns out the box out side that splits the neighboorhood was the old model.

They had forgot to upgrade it. Actualy the cox contractors forgot.

This cuases intermittent breakup as the old model is no fast enough. The problem is load related to there High Speed internet product, but it does at times effect the Digital and HD cable.

In his case, the box was up on there Telephone Pole.

Sad thing is after 5 calls that gave up and bought a new TV as the Tech keeps saying it was there TV.

I do not know how you are going to get them to go out and look at the Neighboor hood spliter box. Most Tech do not even have the keys to them.

I am not talking about the box for your house or the one in your back yard that 2-4 houses share.

Thanks for the input. I really look forward to calling Cox. :(

Rumor, Speculation, and Gossip.........

According to one of my sources, Cox will be turning off CBSHD (Ch 805) after December 31st due to CBS' desire to charge individual subscribers for their HD channel. I'm still unsure as to whether you'll be able to pick it up with a QAM tuner. More to follow...

Doug

Originally posted by Dougaha
Rumor, Speculation, and Gossip.........

According to one of my sources, Cox will be turning off CBSHD (Ch 805) after December 31st due to CBS' desire to charge individual subscribers for their HD channel. I'm still unsure as to whether you'll be able to pick it up with a QAM tuner. More to follow...

Doug

Is that going to affect OTA CBSHD?

I just saw that in the World Herald.

No, it will not affect OTA signal. (Thank goodness!)

here's the link to the OWH story...

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1458&u_sid=956035

Happy Holidays!!! Wow! Cox dropping Kmtv-tv just weeks before the Nfl playoffs and Cbs has the superbowl this year. this is really a bummer for Cox hd customers, since there set-top boxes are not capable of receiving Kmtv-dt ota signal.

If any of the KMTV or Cox executives are reading this forum I hope you realize that you will both lose business by not resolving this dispute.

KMTV:

I pretty much only watch HDTV primetime shows now as well as the news even though it is not HDTV. I will absolutely NEVER watch your news if you pull your channel from Cox. And when I do watch your primetime programming it will be when I taped it and will skip the commercials. I think I am not alone in this sentiment , so you need to reevaluate your decision because you will lose viewers, especially if you withdraw this time of year with the NFL playoffs and SuperBowl which you know are high demand items. Sure many of us will go buy an OTA tuner and take it back after the superbowl, but in the long run you will lose viewership.

Cox:

I think it is very bad business to drop this channel. When I spent $500 for a box at NFM it was with the understanding that you carried CBS and the other local networks. I think it is shi**y that you would not continue to offer this channel. How about giving us the option of paying more??? Many of us that have High Definition setups would be willing to pay more. I can tell you for certain that I will switch back to Directv as soon as NBC and ABC have their antenna setups going for their HDTV channels again.

I wonder if Cox is able to Receive Channel 10 out of Lincoln, OTA. They have a good solid HDTV signal in Lincoln. I think they are at 350K at the moment. Might be worth arm wrestling over.
I imagine they would love a presence in Omaha!

MDG said: "If any of the KMTV or Cox executives are reading this forum I hope you realize that you will both lose business by not resolving this dispute."

I agree 100% I'm thinking of dropping Cox and picking up Direct TV or VROOM this spring. I've already taken KMTV off my favorite channels on the remote. I hope they reconsider.

mooneycj

I think the viewers will be the big losers if Cox and Kmtv cannot come to terms, what is the policy/trends across the country about cable co's carrying digital stations, Pay for them? or Free ? Also why is it that Lincoln has its own tv market and still receive Omaha's stations,when Omaha cannot carry the Lincoln stations? Happy Holidays to everyone!!!!Ronald

In the "Don't know if it will do any good" department I just left a message at KM3 regarding keeping the HD content on Cox. Their number is 592-3333.

In the "Don't know if it will do any good" department I just left a message at KM3 regarding keeping the HD content on Cox. Their number is 592-3333.


__________________
GOOD! I just did the same.
mooneycj

Does KMTV broadcast a DD 5.1 audio along with their HDTV? I only get Pro Logic.

Did everyone else get a postcard from Cox today??? States they are dropping KMTV as of Dec 31st. It also lists the same number posted earlier. So please everyone call 592-3333 and tell them you want it back on Cox

Hi, I bet Cox sent out postcards to every digital tv customer. If Cox and Kmtv do not come to a last minute agreement, the only way to get Kmtv's digital signal is to buy a ota settop box and a uhf antenna, I bet a there will be some returned settop boxes at Best Buy, Circuit City and might be able to get them under $ 200. For those with DirecTV or Dish Hd set-top box all you need is a antenna since these boxes can receive ota digtal siginals.

Both Dishnetwork and Direct tv have nice boxes that will get CBS AND Fox and WB in D-TV

The channels will show right not on the program guide.

Dish also has the new 921 will is like a tIVO that records HD.

Direct TV has the new HD Tivo out soon- march 1st.

Time to leave cox.

I agree with KM 3

If Cox was not making a profit then they would offer HDTV locals for free to everyone through a free live line package.

Right now for me to get KM3 in HD or even ABC 7 in HD I MUST pay Cox money even if I alread owned a box. They no longer offer a free live line package for SAT customers.

Good think I have an atic antenna so I can get CBS, NBC, Fox and WB for free. Now I just need KETv in HD so I do not HAVE TO PAY COX for it.

Even though they say HDTV Ketv 7 is free it is not becuase I still mail them a check every month so I can get KETV 7

KMtv should get paid per subscriber just like Dishnetwork does and soon to be Direct TV does.

This is standard across the county for locals

I would frigging pay for it if I had too I just want my damn NFL in HD.

KMTV's website has a contact list that includes the general managers email. You can find it here: KMTV email list (http://www.kmtv.com/contact.html) Email them and tell them how you feel.

The timing by Kmtv, is really interesting, I bet they thought Cox would pay since all of Cbs's NFL playoff games will be in Hd, including this year's Superbowl. This dispute really has 2 sides to it!!!

I got an Email back from Papas (the owners of Fox 42 and WB 15)

They are also refusing to get Cox put the D-TV signal with out a contract.

COx thinks they can let everything for free. Direct TV and Dish Network HAVE TO PAY for there NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox and WB digital feeds and yet they price is still lower than Cox cable.

Something is not right here. Cox cable is making too much profit off the free channels they are getting.

I would love to see the Lincoln CBS, I can get it now with my atic antenna just fine.

If KMTV goes away just sign up for Dish Network. 3, 6, 7 and all on there sats. They have a free 811 HDTV receiver for new Customers that will get 3,6,7 AND ALL OF THE LOCAL D-TV and HDTV channels here in omaha like 15 and 42.

Plus they plan to add Bravo HD and Starz HD something that Cox does not have.

Or wait for Direct TV to get the locals up March 1st

Cox is just trying to use the KM3 issue to raise rates again on the so called free HDTV package.

Cox has now put the notice on there web page that CBS KM3 HDTV will be going away.

Other CBS stations across the country are now also charging for the HDTV feed. Most average around 50 cENTS to $1 per customer.

Cox cable is refusing any charge.

Direct TV and Dishnetwork already pay this charge and there rates are still cheaper.

Cox is not not playing fare.

To me, this dispute is just silly. I would think that CBS affiliates would be falling all over themselves to get the HD signal on as many transport methods as possible because:

* they are commercial supported, which means the more people that watch, no matter the transport method or definition means more money to them (CBS) ultimately.
* it is very difficult and expensive to record the HD signals, unlike SD. If I'm forced into watching SD CBS, I'll do so through my Tivo or ReplayTV which means I'm not going to watch the commercials. If it's an HD broadcast, it's a lot more difficult to skip the commercials, so I'm going to actually be watching some of them.
* the NFL playoffs and Superbowl are coming up... again, with commercial support. If I'm not watching a HD signal, I'm going to setup the Tivo to record, wait until the game is 60 minutes in, then start watching so that I can avoid the commercials.
* Cox isn't charging anything extra for HD locals, just the cost for the digital tier. Is it making them more money? It probably is. Is CBS making more money with having their HD feed on Cox? I'm pretty sure that they are. The broadcast stations are just getting greedy. This makes about as much sense as if AVS Forum threatened to cut off access to Cox subscribers if Cox didn't pay them a huge amount of money. IT'S A COMMERCIALLY SUPPORTED MEDIA, YOU WANT CUSTOMERS TO COME SO THAT THEY SEE YOUR COMMERCIALS!

And ScottChez, not to hack on your example above, but if you are picking the HD signals off the air, that means that Dish isn't having to pay for those signals, right? So Cox is more expensive than Dish, but they (Cox) are having to pay for digital feeds, fiber links, etc. to get the HD signal to their head-end. If Dish had to put up a dozen new birds and hundreds of fiber links to local stations to be able to direct broadcast local HD signals, then we'd be able to talk about one being cheaper than the other.

Jeff

This is definitely not good news. I have sent a letter to both companies in hopes they can work something out. I certainly do not appreciate the timing of this, but I am sure this has been an ongoing discussion. I just think this move hurts both companies and is foolish. With a little luck they can come to an agreement.

Does KMTV-DT broadcast DD 5.1 audio with their HD programming? I have yet to see DD from them OTA. I'm wondering if my equipment is set up correctly for it.

Does KOLN-DT broadcast DD5.1 with their HD programming?

I just received this in response to an e-mail I sent to KMTV:

An Open Letter to High Definition Viewers:

For the past 12 months, we at KMTV have attempted to negotiate with Cox Cable for a new HDTV Retransmission Consent Agreement. _The old agreement expired 12/31/02. _We had been operating under an interim agreement (month to month) while negotiations were underway.

Regretfully, we have been unable to reach terms with Cox Cable due to their continued inability to see the value of our digital signal and compensate us accordingly. _ That decision was theirs and theirs alone. _Our decision was to remove the KMTV digital signal from their system until they agree to compensate us appropriately.

KMTV made numerous proposals and even enlisted an outside company to help resolve the matter. _Instead, Cox's actions and responses made it clear that they wanted the agreement ONLY on their terms. _Cox is a highly profitable cable company that compensates programming providers on a routine basis. _This is not new ground. _Cox's intransigence is not surprising given their highly publicized dispute with ESPN. _You may want to visit www.keepespn.com to gain another perspective.

KMTV is a broadcast television station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to operate on VHF Channel 3 (analog) and UHF Channel 45 (digital). _We are doing that. _We are providing a free over the air service as mandated by the Federal Government and possess no obligation to give it to Cox for free. _We're doing our part - it is time for Cox to do theirs. _Until they do, we will not provide them our digital signal.

We will be working with local retailers and satellite services to determine, promote and help fund a digital solution for many of you. _

This dispute does not affect our primary (analog) signal on VHF 3 - Cox 5.

Please e-mail HD@km3news.com for further interaction.

Regards,


Jim McKernan
Vice President/General Manager
KMTV
KMTV-DT
Omaha, Nebraska

Sounds like it's a good tiem for places like NFM and the OTA box manufacturers to offer some sort of 'special'. They could move a nice chunk of inventory and consumers could get a deal! Everybody wins.

What is so wrong with putting up an antenna and getting KMTV for free? Break the chains that bind you to paying for TV. Believe me, it feels good to install your own system and bypass the Cable Pigs (sorry- couldn't resist) :)

Is CBS available OTA yet? I know their tower went down a while ago and I have been using Cox to get it. What's up??

KETV ABC lost their tower a few months ago. WOWT NBC's tower was damaged but is now operational again. KMTV CBS wasn't affected by the tower collapse.

It was KETV Channel 7/DT-20, the ABC affiliate that lost their tower. KM3 has been on the air for some time at 45-HD.
I spent some time over the summer putting up my antenna, amp and rotor...just as the DX skips were ending :(
A rotor is well worth the investment, especially in Lincoln where you have the Lincoln and Omaha transmitters in opposing directions.
So, should TW decide to start charging, I'll be set for OTA.
Discovery-HD is addictive though!

Originally posted by Video
Is CBS available OTA yet? I know their tower went down a while ago and I have been using Cox to get it. What's up??

I think you are referring to ABC going down.. Not CBS.. CBS still is broadcasting strong (atleast to my antenna!)

I just my postcard today....WTF am I going to do for the super bowl now? This pisses me off to no end.......Bunch of money grubbing *******s....both of them....if the chiefs make the super bowl I am going to be SO pissed....does CBS have an NFL deal for next year? I hope not....

We are only talking about 50Cents to $1.00 per cox customer per month.

That is all KMTV is asking. This is the same rate that Dishnetwork and Direct TV have to pay the stations.

This is standard across the country in almost every market.

Cox just needs to pay up. You should be calling cox or getting a Sat so you can get the over the air HD for FREE.

Over the Air HD and Analog looks a lot better than cox . Cox seems to compress the HD Signal some.

I still don't agree. If Cox had to pay $0.50 to $1 for every cable channel they carry, we're suddenly talking about $300 per month for digital cable. Even if Cox had to pay $1 per HD channel per subscriber per month, that's $10 cost, $20-$30 fees per month to the subscriber just to get the existing HD tier.

If Cox caves on the CBS contract, both CBS and Cox win, and we as the consumer gets screwed.

If someone could supply me with evidence that this is happening across the country, I'd really like to see it.

Jeff

With the analog networks being carried by the cable systems, I see the HD signal as being a value added service for cable. You are paying for the HD feed through cable and CBS is entitled to get some of this revenue.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=340133

To clarify, Cox pays Emmis for the analog signal. Since the programming on the channels is the same, the difference obviously being PQ and sound Q, and the FCC has made digital transmissions OTA a legal requirement, available free of charge to those with an OTA receiver, Cox does not want to pay Emmis.

Comcast and Time Warner do not pay for digital signals which have programming identical to analog and are available free OTA. A big part of the rationale behind this is the FCC's voluntary Powell Plan, which calls for broadcasters and cable companies to offer local stations' HD "at no charge" above the standard charge for the analog stations.

The vast majority of local stations do not ask for additional compensation for the digital/HD version of their programming. There are some holdouts like Emmis and Sinclair, but the big cable companies will not give in since if they pay one local station extra for HD, they will have to pay all the local stations extra for HD.

I guess one question you have to ask is, if all your other local stations are willing to allow Cox to carry their digital/HD signals at no extra cost above what Cox is already paying for the analog signals, is Emmis justified in asking for special treatment not given to the ABC or NBC (or other networks) affiliates.

FYI, an excerpt from a news article today:

Cox, Emmis in Omaha HD Dispute


By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 12/31/2003

In a spat between a distributor and programmer that wasn’t resolved, CBS affiliate KMTV in Omaha, Neb., planned to pull its HDTV signal from Cox Communications Inc.’s system in that market.

The station, owned by Emmis Communications Corp., is seeking compensation from the cable operator for its HDTV signal. Without that feed, Cox subscribers in that DMA will not be able to view the Super Bowl in HDTV.

The two parties have been negotiating for nearly one year over carriage of the station’s HDTV signal. The broadcaster wants to be compensated by Cox, which is refusing.

"We have not resolved it, and we have every intention of withdrawing permission for them to carry our HD signal [effective Dec. 31]," KMTV general manager Jim McKernan said.

"The issue is compensation, and we’re not going to compromise on that," he added. "Our feeling is that after a $3 million investment to build a digital-broadcasting facility in Omaha, with more expense to come from the standpoint of being able to originate local programming in high-definition, we should be compensated for that."

Cox’s position is that it offers a tier of 10 HD networks free-of-charge to its digital customers and, therefore, it should not have to compensate KMTV or anyone else for their HD signals.

"Our position is that it’s just ridiculous for us to be charged an extra fee when we help to deliver their signal," Cox spokesman Bobby Amirshahi said, adding that Cox has long-term deals with all of the other HD providers in Omaha and it is not paying any of them.

KMTV doesn’t buy Cox’s argument. Cox has been running a promotional campaign that is "basically using ABC, CBS and NBC programming as the hook for them to upsell people to their digital tier," according to McKernan.

"For them to say they’re not profiting from that is ludicrous," he added. "For us to be used as a hook with no compensation is just a position that we cannot agree with."

EDIT: Here is a link to the Emmis website. Because the Emmis corporate HQ is where these policy and negotiating stances are taken, this would be where you would want to direct your opinion (as opposed to the local station's personnel, who really have no say over this type of issue).

http://www.emmis.com/portfolio/tv.aspx

Cox’s position is that it offers a tier of 10 HD networks free-of-charge to its digital customers and, therefore, it should not have to compensate KMTV or anyone else for their HD signals.


But you have to pay for the digital tier, thus you are not getting KMTV's digital signal free. You are paying for it. Cox is getting money for it. KMTV isn't getting reimbursed for a product being sold for profit.

You want the Superbowl on COX? Pay Cox and you have it. You want the Superbowl in HD? Put up an antenna and get it truly for free.

You don't have to pay for the digital tier if you own the right equipment, namely an integrated HDTV with a QAM tuner, right? Having the Locals certainly adds value to Cox's package, but I don't think that they are actually charging anymore for the locals, and that is how they promote their HD package, at least on their web site.
http://www.cox.com/Omaha/DigitalTV/hdtv.asp

I really hate to see this type of dispute, because it can only slow down the great progress that the Omaha and Lincoln markets have enjoyed so far. As much as most of us reading this site might hate to admit it, more households use Cable than (Satellite and antenna), and I think KMTV will simply lose viewership on its new station channel 45. I hope they come to an aggreement for everyone's sake.

NOT ture, there is a trap in your outside box so you can not get the Digital signals.

You must buy the digital teirs and cox makes a big profit on this.

Solution:

I bet KMTV would drop there request IF and ONLY IF Cox would agree to offer there DTV signal Free to everyone that just pays for there lowest package (lifeline) which runs about $13 per month.

Cox is refusing to remove the trap for the $13 a month package as they one more profit from requiring the Ditigal teir payment.

Cox needs to comprimise and agree to remove the trap on request for free.

Guys, Emmis is pulling the same thing here in Albuquerque. As far as I've been able to determine, it is ONLY Emmis who feel they are entitled to additional compensation for the SAME content packaged in a different format. Here are the facts:

1. Emmis is mandated by the Feds to provide DTV by the analog cutoff date. This is by far the main cost associated with HD.

2. Emmis is providing NO HD programming of their own. By their own admission, they don't even own any HD production (as differentiated from transmission) equipment. CBS is the provider of the HD content.

3. Cox, Comcast and every other cable provider that carries HD has had to make major upgrades in their systems to carry DTV and HD signals. During the transition phase, they have to provide the facilities to carry both analog and digital signals. Does Emmis thing this is free? I'll bet Cox has spent a lot more in Omaha on this than Emmis has.

4. Just as in Omaha, Emmis is the only HD provider that is trying to extort more money for HD broadcasts. Why are they entitled to special treatment?

If you agree, I'd plaster Emmis and CBS with complaints about this. The HD Superbowl is CBS's showpiece and I can't believe CBS will be very happy for some bush league operation interfering with it.

Dan

Wow, another reason to go with a DBS provider. You really get free HD OTA with them.

Who says any broadcaster has to offer their HD DTV signal for free to a cable co? That's what (most) everyone here is suggesting. I'd almost be willing to bet the networks (in the future) will give the cable co a 480i signal for their must carry arrangements. If you want HD on a third party provider, be prepared to pay for it.

Well gp, that would be a seriously stupid thing for them to do, given that cable not only reaches well over half the viewers in many areas, it reaches the most affluent half. Broadcasters make their money on advertising and that is priced based on how many and the quality of viewers reached.

Everybody seems to think that only the broadcasters are spending money on this. The networks are and the cable companies are too. Where do we get this idea the local station should be paid twice for the same content when they aren't even generating it?

If this is so reasonable, why aren't the others doing it? Simply because they know it is in their long term interest to have as many people see their HD signal as possible. Think about it.

Of course the broadcasters want as many people seeing their signal as possible. If anyone has cable, they can see this signal. It just so happens this signal isn't HD. But it's the same content.

Now we have a duplication of programming by having a high quality HD/DTV in addition to the analog signal. Cox is up-selling customers and charging for access to the digital tier of programming. They are trying like hell to keep the illusion of "free HD locals" alive. How can it be free if one must pay additional for it? And don't kid yourself in thinking Cox is charging twice for the programming. The second charge is for the quality of signal.

I agree with HD being a value added product when distributed via third party companies. Why shouldn't Cox pay KMTV for programming they are selling?

What difference does it make if KMTV doesn't originate the HD programming? KMTV has contracts with CBS to be the distributor of CBS's material.

Look at it this way. Why is Cox squealing so much over losing the CBS HD signal? Because it has value to the viewer which enables them (Cox) to collect money from those willing to pay for it. Why shouldn't KMTV and CBS be compensated for this?

Why aren't the others doing it?

1) They don't have the balls
2) They don't have the programming
3) They (7, WB and FOX) don't have the means to distribute HD via OTA.

Break the chains that bind and put up an antenna folks.

gp, you're still missing the point. The DTV signal is mandated and in a couple of years it will be the ONLY signal. Would you then expect KMTV to charge Cox less?

And ABC definitely has the programming. I can't speak for Cox, but with our digital package here we got a bunch more channels including 8 movie channels and BBC America. That's what we bought, not the fact that the signal is digital. The box was included as part of the deal. This is no different than the different tiers sold by the Dish people.

As is obvious from this forum, OTA is a pretty tricky deal and many cannot do it at all. People who live in apartments or in urban areas with many big buildings cannot do it at all. People who live too far from the station or are geographically obstructed cannot do it. Should they be cut out or be charged twice for the same programming? Are they being charged more by CBS for the programming because it is HD?

If Emmis was right, they wouldn't be alone in this. Watch CBS put a stop to this pretty quick.

The bottom line is Cox is selling the HD signal. Cox isn't paying for it. If HD locals were in the free and clear on Cox, then I would agree KMTV shouldn't pull the signal.

I agree it harms the HD/DTV conversion when companies play tactics which limit its exposure. In the end this spat is doing this.

If Cox was providing the network HD signals in the basic lifeline tier I would be on KMTV's case. But as I see it now, Cox is charging for the privilege to view HD and not sharing the rewards. Cox and KMTV were in an agreement where only Cox was getting paid for KMTV's programming. It really is that simple.

No, Cox is not selling the HD signal. Cox is selling additional digital channels and carrying the HD signal as part of that. If they were selling it, they would charge extra specifically for it. Like they do for HBO.

They were selling the additional digital channels before the HD signal was available, no? That is the case here with Comcast.

I think what Cox and Comcast should be doing is supplying the HD/Digital box at no extra charge when compared to the digital box alone. That would remove any shadow of a doubt as to whether they are "selling" the HD channels. I guess that's a problem for them because the digital/HD box is significantly more expensive than the HD box alone.

In the end, I expect CBS to step in because this is clearly not in their benefit and you can bet that KMTV isn't going to pay them more money if they got more from Cox. Which they won't.

Originally posted by DanHouck
No, Cox is not selling the HD signal. Cox is selling additional digital channels and carrying the HD signal as part of that. If they were selling it, they would charge extra specifically for it. Like they do for HBO.


Ok, drop the HD locals and see what the subscribers think of the value of this package. The HD locals carry a lot of value to both Cox and the customer. Cox is getting paid but not KMTV.


Carrying the HD networks in a tier, then using these HD stations as a selling point pretty much excludes them from being free in my book. Cox can cook the books anyway they want, but the bottom line is they are getting money for providing the broadcast HD signal.

Give the HD on the basic free and clear tier and KMTV won' have a leg to stand on. But then in this case, would Cox increase the cost of their basic package? In this case, the customer would have to buy a decoder or rent one from Cox.

gp,

I would be more sympathetic with your arguments, had CBS/Emmis/KMTV not been financed with commercials. But given that it’s a commercial station that interrupts programming every few minutes with lengthy commercials, I don’t see why they need to get paid for delivering their commercials. They are content provider that is financed through commercials. HDTV or no HDTV.
Cox on the other hand is a service provider; we pay them for delivering the content developed by the content providers to our homes. If we don’t like their service we pick another service provider, i.e. Quest, Direct TV, or simply cut out the middle man and put an antenna on our roof, in which case we get what we pay for, i.e. a limited number of channels interrupted (with the exception of PBS) every few minutes with commercials.

What strikes me as odd is the station wants a premium for what is at most a few hours of HD a day (including commercials).

Cliff

As this arguement is "circular" in many aspects, it may be best of the FCC steps in and makes a rule regarding this sort of thing...especially after analog goes off for good.

That's a very good point, Dave. Although Emmis seems to be pretty much alone in their position, the very fact this is happening is that the rules are unclear and the FCC needs to take care of that.

I agree the FCC needs to step in and give some guidelines to prevent this from spreading. It is not healthy for HD to have it restricted.

I agree!!!!!! The FCC needs to step in and a make some kind of ruling, on this matter!!! ASAP!!!!!

Not that it will probably matter but,

General information, inquiries & complaints: fccinfo@fcc.gov

You can communicate your concern directly to FCC chairman Michael Powell on the FCC web site. I did so:

Honorable Chairman Powell:

I would like to direct your attention to an emerging issue with the full implementation of DTV and HDTV. As you know, many viewers are constrained from receiving OTA (over the air) broadcasts because of location, geographic factors, restrictions on the use of antenna, and urban signal interference. CATV mitigates these factors and allows viewers to receive high quality video, including DTV, with simple setup. CATV reaches well over half the homes in many markets and is able to provide access to HDTV with a simple and inexpensive set up as well.

We are currently in a transition period where broadcasters are providing both analog and DTV signals. Many have also elected to provide HDTV signals. Although the signal is different, the content is the same.

Although CATV has been slow to adopt DTV and HDTV transmission because of the high cost of upgrading networks, many are now doing so, ensuring that far more viewers will have DTV access than is possible OTA. Most broadcasters have taken the position that they are providing content rather than signals and have allowed CATV to carry their DTV and HDTV signals under existing contracts.

However, one broadcaster, Emmis Communications, feels they are entitled to special treatment and compensation and have pulled HDTV signals from the Omaha and Albuquerque market areas in a coercive attempt to force cable systems there to pay them for the HD signal. Emmis is the only broadcaster in these markets that feels they are entitled to additional payment for the HD signals.

Apparently, several other independent or small broadcast holding companies are considering doing this or have already done so.

This action, if allowed to continue, will have a chilling effect on the growth of DTV and HDTV. They are attempting to use a technicality, the temporary duplication of same content in parallel analog and digital transmission, to extort dual payment for single content.

As noted previously, the vast majority of broadcasters understand this behavior is short sighted and unfair. However, this situation clearly needs an unequivocal statment from the FCC that the DTV/HDTV signal, which will become the only signal in time, is not some kind of premium to be charged extra for but rather is the standard, to be disseminated as widely as possible without price discrimination.

Failure to do this, in my opinion, will cause this currently isolated behavior to spread and result in serious retardation of the converstion to DTV/HDTV.

CATV is not a hugely profitable business and forcing cable systems to pay twice for the same content, plus the huge costs of upgrading systems for DTV/HDTV will definitely slow the spread of digital transmission to millions of viewers.

I do not work for a cable system nor do I hold any stock or other investments in one. I am contacting you as a consumer who is greatly concerned by this situation.

Thank you for reading this. Happy New Year to you and yours.

Sincerely,
Daniel H. Houck
Albuquerque, New Mexico

I tend to side with GP on this one. If I want HD through Cox I am required to subscribe to the digital tier (which is crap). If I want ESPN and Discovery HD I need to subscribe to their premium HD. Take away the local channels from their lineup and you have crap that I'm not interested in paying for.

Please allow me to set the record straight. First and foremost, spreading misinformation is almost as bad as spreading false information.

DTV was mandated by the FCC for all OTA (over-the-air) broadcasters. End of discussion. Those that do not want to comply will be forced to give up their analog broadcast licenses when the FCC decides we can shut down that system, which may not be for many years.

Part of the problem with the roll-out of DTV has been lack of audience. Even with this lack of audience, Emmis Communications and KMTV have been pro-active in the build-out of its DTV broadcast facilities, realizing that this is our future. KMTV has been broadcasting at 700,000 watts ERP since April of 2003.

There are specific FCC rules and regulations regarding the re-transmission of an OTA broadcaster on a cable system. But these only cover re-transmission of the analog broadcast signal, not the DTV signal. This could be a topic unto itself as there are a mired of considerations that the FCC is currently trying to wade through.

Do they give the OTA broadcaster the option of putting an analog or digital signal on a cable system, only one, or both? What if I multiplex 5 SD channels of programming? Will a cable company carry my whole bandwidth? Or can they cherry pick what they want?

The FCC will not force an OTA broadcaster to “give” their signal to a private company to re-transmit and make a profit. Especially when that signal is available to each and every one of you, free, with an antenna. The FCC regulations do not even specify that a local broadcaster has to pass or produce any programming in High Definition.

To quote Mr. Houck, “As you know, many viewers are constrained from receiving OTA (over the air) broadcasts because of location, geographic factors, restrictions on the use of antenna, and urban signal interference.”

Pretty generic statement. Concerning KMTV-DT, I have tested a set top and a grid style antenna, both easily mounted either in the living room, or the attic. Both gave me excellent DTV reception 15 miles from our transmission facility. I have had reports from viewers receiving KMTV-DT from up to 90 miles away with very little effort. I can not speak for all OTA broadcasters in this or other markets. While I am sure there are problem areas, remember, this entire technology is in the build out process as we speak.

Another Mr. Houck quote, “CATV is not a hugely profitable business and forcing cable systems to pay twice for the same content, plus the huge costs of upgrading systems for DTV/HDTV will definitely slow the spread of digital transmission to millions of viewers.”

Cable companies not being hugely profitable business? Where did you find this fact? I cannot come up with a quick statistic to prove this to the contrary, but I’m sure the big names like Time/Warner and Cox Communications aren’t into cable systems to barely break even! If I read the rest of the statement correct, without cable companies, OTA broadcasters will slow down the digital transition. And I guess I’m lost on the comment of cable systems paying twice for the same content.

If anything has slowed down the DTV transition, it has been the television set manufacturers. During this entire time, they have only been supplying monitors, without a tuner. When consumers take these systems home and find that they can not pick up a OTA signal without spending an additional $350 for a decoder, somehow they blame the local OTA broadcaster. If you buy a radio without a tuner it is called an amplifier!

Satellite systems seem to have gotten it right. They provide a decoder to their subscribers that can also be used to connect your antenna to for local reception!

In any case, KMTV-DT 45 is broadcasting a very strong signal that is available, FREE, over the air, just as it has broadcast television for over 50 years. No single cable system can even dream of having as many subscribers as the number of viewers that can effortlessly receive this signal, FREE. CBS has been the leader in HDTV programming for many years, and combined we will usher in the DTV age. KMTV is not “taking anything away” from the viewer.

If you wish to bring up equipment costs or cable access, these are completely different issues.

I also keep see comments regarding “money” and “payments”. KMTV has simply asked Cox Communications to come to the table and talk about compensation, for close to twelve months. They have refused, straight up.

Regards,

Scot, you did mention that costs were another matter. I would like to bring up costs. I think it is crappy of you station to expect your viewers to go out and purchase an OTA tuner for a minimum of $300. I will not do so and I will not watch your network in prime time as a result. Even if I did have the money to purchase a tuner right now, most HDTVs have a limited number of inputs. So then many of us have to choose between a DVD player, cable HDTV, OTA Hdtv or buy an expensive HDTV compatible switch for another couple hundred bucks. And I do have to take issue with you regarding your HDTV signal. I live at 132 and Maple, but had significant problems tuning your signal before I switched to Cox. The only way I was able to reliably get your signal was to put up a mast antenna in the attic. There's another hundred bucks or so when you count time it takes.

Thanks,

A pissed off former KMTV viewer

I can't believe you bitch because you're too cheap to buy the necessary equipment to receive free programming. Are you entitled to free programming and equipment from cable? Cox likes to make you think this is the case. Looks like you're buying it.

FYI, I have spent $70 in addition to my A/V equipment. This has given me two antennas in the attic and the ability to view both Omaha and Lincoln DTV.

Well Scott, I can't comment on reception in Omaha so I won't. But you might be interested to know that Comcast is projected to lose 11 cents per share this year and Cox might make a whopping 9 cents. Emmis is projected to make 19 cents per share.

I don't own Comcast or Cox because the ROI is pretty poor. Cable is as capital intensive as the phone company and they don't make much money either. I made $300K in the market last year and it sure didn't come from companies that lose money or make pennies.

And, as one of your own viewers just pointed out, you can't just receive the signal with an antenna. You also need an expensive set top box. And you have to hope there's not another building in the way or your landlord won't let you use an outside antenna if the indoor one doesn't work, or your homeowners association doesn't allow them, etc. Why do you think more than half the viewers have cable these days?

Your attitude totally amazes me. Have you done a head count of the number of people who have gone to all the trouble and expense to receive your "free" signal? Have you considered how many more could do so and would do so because it would be available on cable? You're in the business of selling advertising, not charging cable systems twice for the same content.

Cutting off the most affluent group of viewers just so you can engage in some unilateral self-righteous pissing match with Cox is pretty dumb. Is this how you deal with the "lack of audience"--by cutting off half the potential viewers??????

It's the fault of the TV manufacturers? PULEEZE! They simply react to the market and most people don't want to pay $300 more for these tuners. Half the TV set buyers are on cable, the tuner would be worthless to them. If they have Dish or Direct TV, the tuner box is worthless to them. If they wanted to fiddle with antennas they would. All the more reason why these signals need to be on cable. The name of the game is to get people WATCHING the HD, not just blowing it out into the ether with megawatts.

Emmis and ONLY Emmis is taking this position they should be paid twice. Everyone else in Omaha and Albuquerque is quite happy to have cable carry the digital signal because they want their investment to pay off at some point in the future. As you state, analog is on its way out--this is NOT optional. You didn't address this but I think we'd all be interested to know if you would drop the extra charge for the second signal when analog is turned off? No? Why am I not surprised?

Scott, the vehemence of your reply suggests you all are taking a lot of well deserved heat for your management's shortsightedness. And you should. Turning the HD off just before the playoffs and the Superbowl is extortion, pure and simple.

If your position is so correct, why are you hanging out there all by yourselves with it? Why hasn't the local ABC affilliate pulled their signal? Cox is not paying them extra for it. Explain to all of us why KMTV and KMTV alone should receive special compensation.

Compensation = money to Emmis according to what I've been told by Comcast. You want to be paid twice for the same content. What part of "same content" don't you understand? It's the same football game with the same advertisers whether it is analog or digital. The programming is IDENTICAL. That is what "same content" means.

If your organization can't afford to adopt current technology without receiving special compensation, maybe it is time to sell the TV stations to someone who can. I'm sure Viacom, who has made all CBS HD programming available to Comcast, would be happy to purchase KMTV and KRQE.

I can't speak for KMTV but KRQE is pretty bush league--a poor third even in our small market. If it wasn't for the CBS programming, no body would ever turn the station on. A lot of the time they're running infomercials! KOAT, the ABC affilliate put their HD signal on Comcast as soon as the capability was available and they're keeping it there. Maybe that kind of forward thinking is why KOAT is #1 in our market and KQRE is reduced to running infomercials, LOL!

BTW, I own a SIR-T150 and have OTA capability. My interest here is making DTV and HD available to the widest possible audience for the lowest possible hassle and cost because that is what will secure it's future. The sooner more people see it, the sooner more content will be broadcast in it and the sooner the cost of tuners will come down and they'll be included in more sets.

This is just like color TV. It was years before the critical mass of color sets justified the huge expense to convert the broadcast system to it. That's the game you're in--if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen.

Dan Houck

Another question, is DTV available as a pay service or add on to satellite service (I know some markets have local channels available as another package). I suscribed to Cox for the ease of use. I only need one input to view all DTV and HDTV channels. Now I have to use at least two inputs which means re-programming all of my macro remotes and Elan VIA system. I know, poor me, but I would love to be able to switch to Satellite and get all my channels from one source again. Any ideas?

BTW, boycotting Cox and or KMTV is not an option because I watch a lot of the sporting events that CBS offers. On the other hand, it there is a simple solution such as changing to satellite and keeping digital access for all local and premium channels, I would gladly drop Cox since it looks like the ESPN issue has become a pissing match as well.

Yeah, if ESPN HD goes, COX will be losing all my business. Phone, calble, and Internet....it still may be going if they can't come to terms with KMTV in time for the superbowl.

Dan, I said in addition to my A/V gear. I have spent several thousand dollars on my HDTV and the associated audio equipment. But none of this has allowed me to view any programming other than DVDs. I subscribe to Dish Network and have spent $150 for a combined OTA and satellite tuner. It does great pulling in HDTV, and I'm 50 miles from KMTVs tower. My Radio shack $20 (150-2160) UHF antenna can pick them up just fine.

Just for a price point comparison, if you would sign up for Dish, you can get several receivers installed for practically free. This would include a HD OTA capable receiver too. Oh, I guess you'd have to spend $20-$100 for the required antenna(s).

Why is it that so many think they're entitled to free TV on a cable system?

Another point for comparison. Look at ESPN HD. They are selling their HD signal in addition to the SD ESPN. Everyone is gobbling this up and not complaining one bit.

Note: this message is quoted directly from the KMTV response. The areas in italics are KMTV, the normal areas are my comments.

Please allow me to set the record straight. First and foremost, spreading misinformation is almost as bad as spreading false information.

DTV was mandated by the FCC for all OTA (over-the-air) broadcasters. End of discussion. Those that do not want to comply will be forced to give up their analog broadcast licenses when the FCC decides we can shut down that system, which may not be for many years.

Part of the problem with the roll-out of DTV has been lack of audience. Even with this lack of audience, Emmis Communications and KMTV have been pro-active in the build-out of its DTV broadcast facilities, realizing that this is our future. KMTV has been broadcasting at 700,000 watts ERP since April of 2003.

And Cox started building out fiber a few years ago, before they sold digital cable, PPV, cable modems, even with a "lack of audience." I'm assuming they did this because they realized that this was their future as well. We could use the similar logic in reverse, that Cox should be demanding money from KMTV to be carried in perfect digital, no matter where you are in the metro area.

Oh, wait... thanks to the cable reforms of 1992 and subsequent court rulings, the local cable systems are REQUIRED to carry the local stations. In fact, in 1997, the cable companies challenged must-carry, and the local broadcasters lobbied for the regulations to stand. In summation, the local broadcasters were scared that cable was going to cut into their advertising revenues, they pushed for legislation to force cable companies to carry their (analog) signal. Does anyone detect any irony here?

There are specific FCC rules and regulations regarding the re-transmission of an OTA broadcaster on a cable system. But these only cover re-transmission of the analog broadcast signal, not the DTV signal. This could be a topic unto itself as there are a mired of considerations that the FCC is currently trying to wade through.

Do they give the OTA broadcaster the option of putting an analog or digital signal on a cable system, only one, or both? What if I multiplex 5 SD channels of programming? Will a cable company carry my whole bandwidth? Or can they cherry pick what they want?

The FCC will not force an OTA broadcaster to “give” their signal to a private company to re-transmit and make a profit. Especially when that signal is available to each and every one of you, free, with an antenna. The FCC regulations do not even specify that a local broadcaster has to pass or produce any programming in High Definition.

But the FCC will force a cable company to carry the OTA signal under "must-carry" rules. Even though that analog signal is available to each and every one of us, free with an antenna.

To quote Mr. Houck, “As you know, many viewers are constrained from receiving OTA (over the air) broadcasts because of location, geographic factors, restrictions on the use of antenna, and urban signal interference.”

Pretty generic statement. Concerning KMTV-DT, I have tested a set top and a grid style antenna, both easily mounted either in the living room, or the attic. Both gave me excellent DTV reception 15 miles from our transmission facility. I have had reports from viewers receiving KMTV-DT from up to 90 miles away with very little effort. I can not speak for all OTA broadcasters in this or other markets. While I am sure there are problem areas, remember, this entire technology is in the build out process as we speak.

Another Mr. Houck quote, “CATV is not a hugely profitable business and forcing cable systems to pay twice for the same content, plus the huge costs of upgrading systems for DTV/HDTV will definitely slow the spread of digital transmission to millions of viewers.”

Cable companies not being hugely profitable business? Where did you find this fact? I cannot come up with a quick statistic to prove this to the contrary, but I’m sure the big names like Time/Warner and Cox Communications aren’t into cable systems to barely break even!

And someone like me would be quick to point out that Emmis Communications is not a charitable organization either. But in this case, one profitable business is trying to squeeze money out of another profitable utility, with the end result being that the consumer gets screwed. It sounds like it would be a lot easier for Cox to just cave in and raise our cable bills. I for one appreciate a local utility that looks out for their ratepayer/subscriber.


If I read the rest of the statement correct, without cable companies, OTA broadcasters will slow down the digital transition.

I don't think the statement is that broadcasters will slow things down as much as cable companies will speed HDTV adoption up. Take for example your average consumer. I would suppose that they would be more likely to rent a HDTV box from Cox and hook up to an existing cable feed than pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for an OTA receiver, antenna, mast, rotor, etc. Yes, one can put up their own antenna, but why if you don't have to? And how people do you think know what multipath is, much less how to deal with it.
Just from a pure technical support standpoint, I would think that broadcasters would be >thrilled< to not have to deal with those people who sit too close or too far away from the HD broadcaster and have to deal with the ugly side of HDTV.

And I guess I’m lost on the comment of cable systems paying twice for the same content.

Doesn't Cox already pay KMTV for the local analog signal? Aren't the same programs carried on both the analog and digital side?

If anything has slowed down the DTV transition, it has been the television set manufacturers. During this entire time, they have only been supplying monitors, without a tuner. When consumers take these systems home and find that they can not pick up a OTA signal without spending an additional $350 for a decoder, somehow they blame the local OTA broadcaster. If you buy a radio without a tuner it is called an amplifier!

Some people buy amplifiers because they don't listen to the radio, or want satellite radio, or listen to a streaming Internet stations. Doesn't it make more sense to NOT build in a receiver when a significant portion of the country doesn't really need one? For those that would rather spend that $350 on a satellite receiver or a cable receiver?


Satellite systems seem to have gotten it right. They provide a decoder to their subscribers that can also be used to connect your antenna to for local reception!

Ah, so we need cable boxes with OTA receivers in them, even though the cable infrastructure is perfectly capable of carrying the signal? Massively flawed logic here. The satellite companies do this because they don't have the bandwidth to carry the signal directly themselves. Maybe they also have learned about the greed of some local broadcasters and just don't want to deal with it.


In any case, KMTV-DT 45 is broadcasting a very strong signal that is available, FREE, over the air, just as it has broadcast television for over 50 years. No single cable system can even dream of having as many subscribers as the number of viewers that can effortlessly receive this signal, FREE. CBS has been the leader in HDTV programming for many years, and combined we will usher in the DTV age. KMTV is not “taking anything away” from the viewer.

<flipping through dictionary>... hmmm... I'm looking under effortlessly and I can't seem to find "purchase OTA receiver, antenna, mast, cable, rotor and composite switchbox, hoist mast and antenna, tack down cable and figure out how to bring it into the house through your finished basement, turn on receiver and deal with multipath issues." Maybe it's the edition of the dictionary I'm looking at.


If you wish to bring up equipment costs or cable access, these are completely different issues.

I also keep see comments regarding “money” and “payments”. KMTV has simply asked Cox Communications to come to the table and talk about compensation, for close to twelve months. They have refused, straight up.

If I were in the position of Cox, I would do the same thing. That you are asking for anything strikes me as fundamental disconnect from the model of commercially-supported broadcasts.

"Why is it that so many think they're entitled to free TV on a cable system?"

Why is it that so many think they're entitled to free TV OTA? It's not free in any case. You "pay" for it by being available to advertisers, in EITHER case. That is the business they are in--selling advertising that is mixed in with the content. The more people see their ads, the more money they make. That's how OTA broadcasting makes a living.

GP, the way you made your statement it implied that the cost of receiving HD only entailed a $70 antenna. That is true only if you had previously bought the required tuner. You did not make that clear. With an antenna and tuner, the average viewer is looking at $450 to receive a couple of HD channels. Over cable, $5 additional for the HD box.

I would expect that few homes would have more than one HD capable TV at this point. So they only have to have ONE box which hooks up with ONE simple little cable to get HD. Which one do you think is likely to attract the most users?

We pay cable to bring the signal to our home. I think of it as a hired antenna. We have 9 outlets in a very large, sprawling house. Even using cable, we require two in-line amplifiers which Comcast supplied and installed at NO EXTRA CHARGE.

My TVs tune the cable with NO extra equipment. It would cost several thousand bucks to install dish in this house. And then I'd still have to have a SECOND antenna plus tuner for the locals. Pretty darned unwieldy compared to just hooking up ONE little cable for each TV and only having ONE extra box for the HD in the home theater.

When it comes to basic cable, Cox and Comcast are not in the content business. They simply pick up a signal that is already in the air and retransmit it in a much easier to use form. This is an expensive propostion, these guys have as much "hard wiring" as a phone company almost. My phone isn't nearly as cheap as basic cable.

Go to the HDTV hardware section and look at the multitudes of postings about OTA problems and issues. It took me 5 minutes to hook up the HD cable tuner and it worked PERFECT the first time and everytime. Which do you think will attract the most viewers?

This is exactly why it seems everyone in the world but Emmis is HAPPY to have cable carry their HD signal, even though it requires the cable system carrying the SAME CONTENT TWICE. They know it will result in MORE VIEWERS watching their ads. Where I come from we call this a win-win.

The cable service I buy above and beyond the locals they carry is because I want the additional CONTENT and am willing to pay extra to get it. The cable companies pay for this ADDITIONAL content and they charge me for it. Such as ESPN. If I didn't want it, I wouldn't buy it. If I didn't buy it, I wouldn't get it because they have NOT invested the money for local broadcast facilities.

From what I understand, they are having some serious problems with their carriers because they're getting a bit greedy too.

As long as HD is confined to the requirement of expensive tuners and antennas and sophisticated people like you, it is going NOWHERE. That is my point. Why would any broadcaster in their right mind make this kind of investment and then cut off half their potential market?

That is why Emmis is hanging out there all by themselves on this, because everyone else has better sense. It absolutely astounds me that this guy from KMTV complains in one sentence about lack of audience and then turns right around and supports a unilateral policy to cut off audience! Wow, talk about contorted logic!!

Doesn't anyone see the irony of KMTV using COX as it its sole distributor of HDTV content prior to getting its tower up and running? Which BTW they where the last of the big 3 in this market to complete?
Also, there is currently no technology (that I know of) that allows time shifting (aka commercial skipping technology) of QAM (although I've read about the Moto 6206 or whatever it's called and the Fusion HDTV III coming out "soon").
Scot, I think it comes down to us consumer's not buying your arguments. We know that if you charge Cox, Cox will charge us, and we are fed up with being charged over and over again to watch your commercials.
The wife will continue to watch CSI and I will watch the superbowl on KMTV, but when it comes to the 10 o'clock news there are alternatives.

Solution:

Both Direct TV and Dish Network are offering $99 HDTV Boxes that will receiver both Over the Air HD and there SAT signals. In some cases you may have get the HDTV box for free with the proper 1-2 year contract.

The monthly rates are generaly $5 less per month than Cox. With eiter SAT Service you will get about 20 more "quality" channels than Cox.

Both have free installs right now.

Dishnetwork has the Locals up on the SAT already and Direct TV is launching a new SAT and will have the Omaha Locals up by March.

DishNetwork is also set to add the Lincoln Locals in Feb.

For $99 you can have all locals including the digital signals for Fox 42 and WB 15 AND KMTV. Plus you will not have to worry about loosing ESPN.

Now is the time to switch to SAT. Do the comparision. Dont forget in your comparisions that cox charges a Montly Rental ($6.95 to $9.99) fee for each box that has the Guide data. Both SAT companies only charge $4.99

Do the math and do the comparision. Then decide.

Scott, the handful of you who can and want to use all these antennas, dishes, etc. can't seem to understand that may not be possible or wanted by everyone. Rain, snow or shine, wind or still, my cable works perfectly. I don't have to climb on the roof to fix or adjust antennas. If I have signal problems THEY come out and fix them promptly at no charge. Not only would I have this hassle with Dish, I'd have to have a half dozen boxes in my house. That's worth some money to me and other cable users. Why do you think the number of cable subscribers VASTLY outnumbers the number of Dish/Direct users?

The solution for this particular problem in both Omaha and Albuquerque is for Emmis to get their head out of their a** and quit trying to extort the cable companies. We need both Dish and cable to keep each other honest and hold down rate increases.

Dan, i think we look at this issue from two different ideologies. I may be wrong, but do you happen to generally agree with Democrats on issues? :)

From http://www.kmtv.com/justice/whatitsworth.php

HIGH DEFINITION, THE FUTURE OF TELEVISION AND THE MARKET IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS BUT KM-3 IS BROADCASTING IN HDTV, AND IT'S FREE. THAT'S RIGHT, FREE!

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH... COX COMMUNICATIONS DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS. IF YOU HAVE AN HDTV AT HOME, COX WANTS YOU TO BUY ITS HDTV PROGRAMMING.

BUYER BEWARE, TOMORROW KM-3 IS PULLING THE PLUG ON ITS HD SIGNAL TO COX. HERE'S WHY, COX IS TAKING A FREE SERVICE AND MAKING MONEY OFF IT. THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

NOW COX WILL TELL YOU THAT KM-3 IS BEING OFFERED AS A FREE SERVICE ON ITS HDTV PACKAGE. THAT'S NOT TRUE, BECAUSE TO GET WHAT IS ALREADY FREE YOU HAVE TO BUY A DIGITAL PACKAGE ON COX. THEY'RE MAKING MONEY, WE'RE NOT.

THINK ABOUT IT, WE HAVE THE SUPER BOWL, WE HAVE THE NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, WE HAVE THE MASTERS AND WE HAVE THE NUMBER ONE PRIME TIME LINE-UP IN AMERICA. WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS THIS, I THINK WE HAVE THE ONLY HDTV PROGRAMMING WORTH WATCHING.

ALL WE WANT IS FOR COX TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. PAY US FOR OUR SIGNAL. INSTEAD THEY WANT TO USE AND EXPLOIT US FOR PROFIT.

PAYING FOR CHANNELS IS NOTHING NEW TO COX. IT PAYS HBO. IT PAYS THE CABLE NEWS NETWORKS, BUT THEY DON'T LIKE TO. IT'S NO SECRET THAT COX IS IN A HUGE FIGHT WITH ESPN. CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE, WWW. KEEPESPN.COM, I THINK YOU WILL FIND IT EDUCATIONAL. WHAT I IT BOILS DOWN TO IS THIS, COX CARES MORE ABOUT PROFIT THAN PROGRAMMING.

WE HAVE TRIED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR TO WORK OUT A DEAL THAT IS BEST FOR KM-3, COX AND YOU THE VIEWER. IN MY OPINION KM-3 HAS ACTED IN GOOD FAITH. COX HAS ACTED WITH ARROGANCE.

CABLE TV HAS MADE US ALL FORGET THAT TELEVISION IS FREE. IT STILL IS FOR YOU THE VIEWER.

CALL COX, THE NUMBER IS 933-3000. TELL THEM IF THEY WANT TO PROFIT THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY.

I'M TRAVIS JUSTICE... THAT'S FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.

COMMENTS:
E-MAIL ADDRESS: travis@km3news.com
OR CALL
593-2706

This is just another example of a poor management decision by KMTV. The station has been mired well below the ABC and NBC affiliates in newscast ratings and recently eliminated its 6 p.m. newscast in favor of "Entertainment Tonight."

KMTV also cut production of two locally-produced shows in favor of informercials (adding to an ungodly number that already run on weekends). And to further cut costs, over an 18-month period, nearly a dozen newsroom/on air workers were cut loose - with fewer than half of them replaced. I'm guessing the cost-savings went into billboards put up around town advertising the idiotic opinion segment called "For What It's Worth."

The moves mentioned above seem to be a deliberate attempt to drive down the value of KMTV as much as possible, possibly to make it an attractive buy for a bigger TV media conglomerate like Clear Channel or Sinclair.

And FYI, Emmis makes its workers get their paychecks in a 90-percent money, 10-percent stock option that has only recently paid off.

Originally posted by Hal Dawg
I'm guessing the cost-savings went into billboards put up around town advertising the idiotic opinion segment called "For What It's Worth."


I don't know enough about this Cox issue to opine on the KMTV vs. Cox issue. However, I must say, "For What It's Worth" is a great segment... I like seeing commentary on the local news, especially when I am bombarded with right wing screamers on the cable news networks.

GP:

Hardly. :)

I'm a Republican political operative, run campaigns for CONSERVATIVE candidates. I ran the campaign that defeated the longest sitting Speaker of a State House in the U.S. The guy, Raymond Sanchez, was a keynote speaker at the 2000 Dem convention. What have you done to elect conservatives lately?

I'm still waiting for you or anyone else to explain to me why ONLY Emmis feels they are entitled to be paid twice for the same content. And I'm still waiting for Scott to assure us that when there's only ONE signal, they'll only expect Cox to pay them once.

Interesting, I'm finding out that KMTV is a bush league station in their market just like KRQE is here. Serious broadcasters don't have to resort to infomercials during daytime hours.

Dan

KMTV keeps saying that Cox makes you pay for the KMTV signal. Is that true???? Can't you get the signal in the clear on QAM if you have a compatible TV like the Mitsubishi's??? My TV isn't QAM compatible so I can't verify this, but I thought it used to be available. If it is available in the clear, I do not think it is unreasonable for me to pay extra to subscribe to digital cable to get the HD service. KMTV keeps talking about Cox being money hungry and making all this money, but Cox actually lost money last year, they are not this behemoth company that is taking over the world.

Yahoo Finance Past earnings/estimates (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ae?s=COX)

If anyone is the money hungry ones it's KMTV. They should be thankful that Cox is carrying HDTV locals, lots of markets don't and I can tell you that I watched their network more because of that, and now I won't.