Topeka, KS - HDTV - Page 4

Sorry, NAB announcement--

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
November 5 , 2002 Dennis Wharton
(202) 429-5350



27 NEW STATIONS MAKE DTV TRANSITION

--562 Stations in 158 Markets--
--Over-the-Air DTV Signals in Markets that Include Over 92% of TV Homes--

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Association of Broadcasters announced today that 27 more television stations have begun transmitting a digital signal.

Of the 27 new DTV stations (listed below), four are the first in their markets on air with DTV (marked with a *).

WCLF-TV Tampa, FL (Market Rank #13), Christian Television Network-owned independent
WPXB-TV Boston, MA (Market Rank #6), NBC-owned independent
WACX-TV Orlando, FL (Market Rank #20), singly-owned independent
KCTV-TV Kansas City, MO (Market Rank #33), Meredith-owned CBS affiliate
WLVI-TV Boston, MA (Market Rank #6), Tribune-owned WB affiliate
KEYC-TV* Mankato, MN (Market Rank #199), United Communications-owned CBS affiliate
WIBW-TV* Topeka, KS (Market Rank #138), Gray Television-owned CBS affiliate
WNDY-TV Indianapolis, IN (Market Rank #25), Viacom-owned UPN affiliate
WTTV-TV Indianapolis, IN (Market Rank #25), Tribune-owned WB affiliate
WVTM-TV Birmingham, AL (Market Rank #40), NBC owned and operated station
WCTX-TV Hartford, CT (Market Rank #27), LIN-owned UPN affiliate
WZTV-TV Nashville, TN (Market Rank #30), Sinclair-owned Fox affiliate
WUXP-TV Nashville, TN (Market Rank #30), singly-owned UPN affiliate
WNAB-TV Nashville, TN (Market Rank #30), Lambert-owned WB affiliate
WHTN-TV Nashville, TN (Market Rank #30), Christian Television Network-owned independent
WAPT-TV Jackson, MS (Market Rank #89), Hearst-Argyle-owned ABC affiliate
KUVS-TV Sacramento, CA (Market Rank #19), Univision owned and operated station
KMAX-TV Sacramento, CA (Market Rank #19), Viacom-owned UPN affiliate
KDTV-TV San Francisco, CA (Market Rank #5), Univision owned and operated station
WCBI-TV* Columbus, MS (Market Rank #131), Imes-owned CBS affiliate
WFPX-TV Fayetteville, NC (Market Rank #29), Paxson owned and operated station
WPXU-TV Jacksonville, NC (Market Rank #103), Paxson owned and operated station
KOKI-TV Tulsa, OK (Market Rank #60), Clear Channel-owned Fox affiliate
WPSG-TV Philadelphia, PA (Market Rank #4), Viacom-owned UPN affiliate
WPHL-TV Philadelphia, PA (Market Rank #4), Tribune-owned WB affiliate
KCBD-TV* Lubbock, TX (Market Rank #147), Liberty-owned NBC affiliate
KSTR-TV Dallas, TX (Market Rank #7), Univision-owned Telefutura affiliate
This brings to 562 the number of stations broadcasting in digital. DTV signals are now being transmitted in 158 markets that include 92.49% of U.S. TV households. In addition, 46% of U.S. TV households are in markets where broadcasters are delivering four or more DTV signals.

The National Association of Broadcasters is a full-service trade association that promotes and protects free, over-the-air local radio and television stations' interests in Washington and around the world. NAB is the broadcaster's voice before Congress, federal agencies and the courts. NAB also serves a growing number of associate and international broadcaster members. Information about NAB can be found on its Web site at www.nab.org.

###

I got an email from Jeff at WIBW today. I was disappointed to learn that they apparently have no plans to increase their power beyond the 95 kW ERP they will have after the new feed line is installed. I doubt that I will ever be able to receive them at that power, so I guess I'd better start sending "pain" KCTV's way!

Brad

I am going to wait and see if I can possibly get the WIBW signal once they do go to 95 kW. If I can't then I will be sending some "pain" KCTV's way as well. If I can get the signal, then I will simply stop watching KCTV all together. This really sucks. I just hope that I can get the KU-UCLA game on December 21st.

Tim-

Jeff said there were some "problems" with the manufacturer of the transmission line. He didn't go out on a limb as to how long it would be (understandable!).

Brad

Tennessee-Miami is not in HDTV on WIBW. Wonder if the kinks still aren't work out? Anyone know.

I dont think they even know!!! It sure would be nice if they would
put some HD on the air!!!

The CBS movie started out in HD, but when I checked back at 10 pm it was back to SD. I don't know if they were having a problem or if their switcher switched for the news even though the movie was running late. Tonight the entire CBS prime time is in HD, so we should find out.

This morning no Young and Restless in HD, in fact no picture on channel 44. Showing 90+% signal.????

We have been off and on HDTV because I have been working on the programing. I even got some help from our sister station in Mo.
You guys are not very patient... cut me a little slack.


Oh and thanks craig for the nice comments.

Jeff Groves
WIBW

Not very patient? You were suppose to be on the air in May. You had one extention and now have asked for another. It's not like you haven't had FIVE years to figure things out.

CSI:Miami was in HD on WIBW Monday night. The switching from network to local news breaks and commerials were all smooth and clean. Better then I have seen on other stations.

Jeff, you have done a good job on the switching program.

Sorry about that Jeff. Been waiting a long time to get some HD
and sometimes get a little frustrated. Just want to get some use
out of these expensive toys and be treated to some eye candy.

It is interesting that WIBW-DT lights up the Dolby Digital 5.1 light on my JVC receiver even though CBS only transmits in DD 2.0. WIBW will be ready for the future when CBS starts doing 5.1.

The football game on Saturday looked great. I didn't get to watch much
of it but what I saw was pure eye candy. On the football game my
5.1 indicator came on and I had sound coming from the center and
front speakers. Later on the District even had some sound coming from the back speakers also, but it wasn't very loud but there was sound coming
from them. Did CBS start doing 5.1 or is this some sort of fake 5.1?

On Sunday night there was no widesreen programing on WIBW, thats because the central football game ran late. So CBS did not have a HDTV feed for the central region... but that did not stop them (CBS) from putting up the Hdtv Zeneth logo... nice huhh ...

The change in transmission line to increase power has been delayed for another few weeks.. When the line is changed, the HDTV transmitter will be shut off for a few days and the analog transmitter will have to decrease power to around 20% output... The delay is because WIBW is in a rating period and reducing power to 20 % will definitely take its toll on viewership..

Thanks
Jeff Groves

Thanks for the update. I hope things are going by Dec. 21 though. Need my KU basketball in high deff.

Thanks for actually caring, unlike some other KC CBS station.

KSNT is on the air!

We are getting a stronger signal in downtown Topeka then we are with WIBW-DT. I haven't seen any HD yet but will check from home tonight.

Thanks - Gary and the staff at KSNT.

The signal this morning is bouncing between 75-85 for WIBW channel 44 and 85-99 for KSNT channel 28. We're about 23 miles east of 44 and 7 miles southeast of 28. Our UHF antenna is pointed west.

28 is correct. It shows up as 27.1 on my Sony HD100. Leno was not in hi def on Friday night. The digital channel does not look as good as the regular channel does on cable. I would bet that they are still working on it.

I had a heck of a time getting a signal from WIBW and KSNT at the same time on my cheap antenna in the house. I ended up mounting it to a old camera tripod and stuck it in the corner. Hopefully I can find something that is a little more pleasant looking.

Brad means a blond with nice headlights

Received channel 44 in Emporia last night
with a signal strength of 89
could not receive any other stations
Topeka or KC.

WIBW 44 will be off for hopefully no longer then sunday night.
We are changing transmission line. I'll turn the DT TX off about 12:30am
or so..

Time to go to work.
Thanks
Jeff Groves

Thanks for the insight, Jeff. The channel just went down 5 minutes ago.