Albuquerque, NM - HDTV - Page 2

Hi Everyone
Thanks to the business people who are supporting HDTV and talking to the stations. I have my 8VSB module in my 6000 ready to go. I will try the request to DISH and hope I get the CBS station. Should I start with calling into DISH? Thanks, Horton
MITS 65905, Dish 6000.

and with a DVB-S compatible HDTV receiver (like my Unity Motion), with a BUD you can get HDTV feeds for ABC, NBC, PBS, soon FOX, and occasional HDTV events like the Cubs game, the Dallas christmas parade, and some ACC basketball from Raycom that the WRAL HD truck is used for production.

Robert

I don't know what the true story is, I just asked the director of engineering as I figured he was in the best position to know.

what is truly sad is that on the BUD, CBS uses some funky DC2 format that I can't receive with my receiver (I don't know if it's higher symbol rate or some other thing). If I could get CBS on satellite, I'd say forget KRQE, I'm using my BUD, but I have to rely on KRQE due to the way CBS is on satellite. CBS has by far the most HDTV content and it bites that KRQE can't get the ball rolling to get it on the air for college and pro football season.

robert

I would first contact Dish directly at 1-800-333-3474 and request a waiver from them. It may take up to 45 days but it doesn't cost you anything and someone has to explicitly decline your request otherwise Dish will give it to you automatically.

I have the Unity Motion HDR-1000A (it handles both satellite and off-air HDTV). I love my receiver but it only gets a minor workout due to the lack of HDTV on satellite and none off-air. that will change big time when the locals get up and going. 8^)

the only bad thing about the receiver is that the fans needed to be replaced once (but no big deal to obtain the fan and install it). a bad thing for you is that you would have to buy a used one if you wanted one as they are no longer being made AFAIK and the liquidation sale when I got mine is long over.

robert

Robert:
Do you have the old Unity Motion or the new Integra 910? I'm leaning strongly towards the Integra when the time comes to buy a stb. How do you like yours? I'm currently getting the CBS programming thru Starchoice. You have the BUD; if you don't already have it, the Motorola receiver/Hdd 201 combo is not too expensive to add on. You have to make arrangements with a program broker in Canada to get authorized. The CBS feeds use a proprietary technology supplied by motorola. There have been a lot of posts in the Delphi 4DTV forum about the CBS stuff.
John M in NM

Fred

Is Bill Anderson's understanding of the waiver issue correct? The burden is on the viewer requesting the waiver to get the answers I guess.

good luck
hope for a warm dry fall on the Crest
Pete

I sent this email to Bill Anderson in reponse to his reply...

14 August 2001

Bill, I appreciate your prompt response to my email from yesterday. I get the feeling from your email that you will not be transmitting high definition any time soon. I was hoping to hear sometime more encouraging.

As far as your understanding of the Dish Network waiver system I need to clarify something. When you grant a waiver it is for an INDIVIDUAL Dish subscriber and NOT all the local viewers/subscribers. I spoke with a Dish Network representative this morning and they confirmed what I said. You may check this out by calling Dish Network directly at 1-800-333-3474 and punch in options 1, 1, 2, 4 to speak to a respresentative to verify this.

You should know that there are only a handful of us that would want this waiver from you for the CBS high definition capability in the ABQ area and we would be interested in this only until your station came on-line.

I plead with you to grant me this waiver so I can enjoy CBS programming in high definition today. I promise you that I will respectfully give up my waiver once you start transmitting in the future.

I would again appreciate a response to this email.

Thanks, Fred Jerina.

I had a rather lengthy dialog with Bill Anderson inspired by Fred's message to him. The whole exchange follows. Sorry about the length.

**** My original email
Hello Mr. Anderson

Fred Jerina sent me a copy of the email message sent to you this morning regarding waivers for CBS high definition feeds on Dish Network. Although I have no interest in a waiver (I'm a DirecTV subscriber) I can certainly understand Fred's request.

I think what we'd all much rather see is CBS high definition broadcast lcoally by KRQE but I understand that the transition is difficult and expensive. Although I think the FCC came up with a pretty raw deal for the broadcasters, CBS should be applauded for their willingness to embrace the new technology and make the best of the situation. I think HDTV could be
what the broadcasters need to recapture viewers lost to cable and direct broadcast satellite over the last few years. I have not watched any local programming for the last six years or so that I've been a DirecTV subscriber. The picture and sound quality of NTSC just doesn't do it for me.

A small number of viewers in the Albuquerque market are equipped to receive high definition programming now. We would greatly appreciate an update from you about your progress and timetable in starting up KRQE-DT. Everyone that Fred copied his message to is a member of www.avsforum.com. This forum is populated by dedicated home theater enthusiasts, hardware manufacturers and people from the broadcast industry. I've been impressed with the interaction between broadcast professionals and their viewers on the forum. It's truly a win-win situation for both. The broadcasters get feedback from technically savvy viewers about programming and transmissions. Viewers get reliable information from the broadcast industry. Broadcast engineers and other personnel from stations, as well as network executives (Bob Ross from CBS for one) regularly post comments, questions and
information.

Information from you would be MOST WELCOME by the forum members. There's a fairly active thread discussing HDTV in Albuquerque at (link given here). Your contribution would be greatly appreciated.

Good luck in your transition to digital broadcasting and thanks for your time.

Sincerely,
Pete Williams
505-xxx-xxxx

****reply from Mr Anderson****
Pete,

Smart observations, thanks. You are right that it has been very helpful for us to hear from DTV customers and prospects about their interest in our conversion timetable. We'll undoubtedly build out much sooner than critical demand, so it's some comfort to know that there is at least a small, informed group out there that will take advantage of our investements.

Our digital antenna was ordered more than a month ago, the critical first step. We are ordering the necessary equipment now with hopes of getting this installed this fall before the weather on the Sandia crest makes it impossible to continue.

Thanks again for writing.

Bill Anderson
VP and General Manager

**** my response *******
Hello Bill

Those of us obsessed enough to have the equipment before you do are the best salesmen out there. I had some people over last week to see the Cubs-Rockies high definition broadcast on WGN and DirecTV. They all left my home convinced that they'd own HDTV systems soon too!

We'll all hope for a warm fall and no snow on the crest. Do you mind if I post my original inquery and your reply to the forum?

Thanks for the info.
Pete

*****Bill's reply******
Not at all. Thanks for writing and feel free to check in.

By the way, your letter made me think that if there are a group of interested DTV folks out there, maybe we should hold a Open-House/meeting in our TV studio sometime and our engineers could give you all an update on our conversion timetable, field questions and maybe ask a few of our own. Let me know if you think that's an idea worth pursuing.

***** my response********
Bill

An open house would be a great idea.

The best place to organize it would be on AVSforum. A number of the other stations that post there have hosted open houses. You could probably get some milage if you contacted the high end dealers in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. There's probably five or six in both cities that sell nice equipment. I don't know how aware you are of the home theater hobby (or obsession).
Some of these systems run three hundred grand for electronics only. It's nuts.

Let me know how I can help.

thanks
Pete

Pete,

Thanks for the update. Here's some info I got as well, albeit from a different individual.

Sent to Bill Anderson:

""Dear Bill,

Several members of the AVSFORUM having been discussing your station's direction and policy.
http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum20/HTML/003738-2.html

The question that has not been clearly answered is will KRQE be broadcasting HDTV or only DTV? There is a substantial difference between HDTV's 1080i versus DTV at 480p. Can you confirm which version your hardware supports and what your plans are?

Thanks and regards, Peter""

Received from Frank Lilley:

""Peter, KRQE-TV will be building our plant to allow for HDTV. There are programming and economic issues with broadcasting in HDTV. As you know CBS is a leader in offering HDTV programming, and KRQE-TV will when possible, pass that programming on to our viewers. What you may not know is that CBS does not offer a Mountain time zone feed of their HDTV programming. For KRQE-TV to broadcast CBS HDTV programming, we will have to invest in expensive time delay equipment that the rest of the country does not. Our plans are to invest in that equipment, but it may not be when we first start telecasting in DTV this spring.

I hope this answers your questions.

Franklin Lilley
Director of Engineering
KRQE-TV
505-767-9400""

As you can see, there is clearly a differentiation between DTV (480p) and HDTV (1080i).

Regards, Peter

I just received this reply from Bill Anderson at KRQE about my request for a waiver so I can receive CBS-HD...

Fred,

The digital antenna was ordered to be built more than a month ago and other equipment is on order. We are trying to build this out before the snow makes it impossible on Sandia Crest. You are asking for a firm date. We don't have one from the antenna manufacturer and we don't know what the weather will do. We'll do our best, and do our best to keep interested viewers informed.

It's my understanding that there is no such thing as a DTV "waiver" as far as individuals are concerned. We either agree to let all local viewers have access to CBS digital, or we don't. Since we are in the process of spending millions to deliver that service, and since there is no getting it back once we provide even a short term "waiver", we will not be granting those requests. Hope you can understand our position.

Thanks for keeping in touch.

Bill Anderson
VP and General Manager

The following is the email I sent him...

Monday, 13 August 2001

Dear Bill Anderson (General Manger of KRQE-TV Albuquerque),

We have previously sent emails to each other regarding your local station
going high definition. You stated that you anticipated that sometime this
fall you would be up and running. I really hope this happens during that
time frame. I wish I would have gotten a firm commitment date from you.

I am a subscriber to the Dish Network system and have high definition
capability through them. They will start transmitting CBS HD programming
over their system starting tomorrow, Tuesday, August 14. I have, through
Dish Network, requested a waiver so I can start getting CBS programming in
high definition this week. I understand from them that my waiver was denied
by your station.

I understand you would rather have me watch your local CBS station with your
local commercials instead of New York's. I would be most happy to watch
station's programming in high definition if it was available. However, it
is not. I think it would be most reasonable to allow me the waiver UNTIL
your station is up and running then pull that waiver from me at that time.
I think that would be a most suitable compromise. This way I could be
receiving CBS's full array of high definition programming right now.

I would appreciate a response to this email.

Yours truly, Fred Jerina.

Maybe we can convince KRQE to broadcast the Pacific or Central feeds when HDTV is available, and just run a demo loop the rest of the time. It's pretty unlikely that I'd watch upconverted 480i.

Pete

Boy, the information about KRQE is getting more depressing as more of it is coming out. Not only will we not see a digital signal from them until this spring we will not see a high definition digital signal until later next year sounds like. I want my waiver NOW !!!

I would like to hear from all of you on who would be interested in joining me on a picket outside of the KRQE-TV offices downtown Albuquerque to protest their refusal to grant us waivers. We could contact the local new media to invite them to the protest and let them know our side of the story. Any interest???

Fred

KRQE has been the most responsive broadcaster in Albuquerque. At least they reply to email. We're not going to accomplish anything by raising a stink with them. If we stay positive and supportive, we'll be better off.

I seriously doubt that a picket line would get much press. I don't think KOB, KOAT or KASA want to bring ANY attention to the whole digital TV debacle.

Pete

Although I appreciate KRQE responding to most of our emails (haven't heard back from my latest one, still waiting), the station needs to realize how frustrating it is when you are fully capable of enjoying the richness of CBS's HD programming right now and we are not allowed to see it because of their selfishness. I feel like I am being held hostage by our local station here. It's just not fair.

I'll bet all the small market CBS affiliates are pretty pissed off at CBS for opening up this can of worms with Dish Network. Maybe that's what CBS intended.

IMHO the only one that truly deserve the wrath of the viewers is the CBS affiliate in Phoenix (KPHO?). They refuse to broadcast HD when they have all the infrastructure in place except for one or two pieces of hardware.

CBS should have gotten a waiver mechanism in place prior to the startup of the Dish deal and gotten their affiliates to buy into it. The affiliates have no motivation to grant waivers. It's easier for them to ignore the requests and leave a few viewers mad. The affiliates aren't the only ones to blame. CBS dropped the ball too.

Pete

I do feel for the smaller towns having to convert to digital sooner than they can really afford to (maybe the networks should help these stations out) but I can't see these small town affiliates not granting waivers to the small group of people having the capabilities that could be enjoying it right how.

I understand that our local CBS may be digital by May 2002 but it won't trasmit HIGH DEFINITION digital until way after that. I wonder if we will even see high definition by the end of 2002!

I too would like to be a part of the KRQE tour whenever it is. I think its a good idea for those of us here to show them our interest, and hopefully enter into a dialogue with them on the subject while there. BTW, did the station manager ever get clarification on whether the waiver is a blanket for the area, or for each individual receiver? That being done could remedy a lot of the concerns we have.

------------------

I have sent an email to Bill Anderson clarifying that the waivers are for INDIVIDUALS and not the WHOLE AREA three days ago but have not heard back from him. I feel they are not even interested in giving us individual waivers. They don't want to lose control or something. Who knows???

I find myself defending the broadcaster's position. I know I'm in the minority here.

The FCC mandate to the broadcasters is really just another form of taxation. They have NO economic incentive to incur additional costs to satisfy a few early adoptors by accelerating their DT startup. It's a bummer for those who have already paid OUR "dtv tax". But I understand their position.

Pete

Channel 35 is still empty. I have not watched any local TV since last year's World Series. I'm sure I'll have to watch it this year on crappy NTSC too.

NEWS FLASH!

I just got a call from the Director of Engineering at KNME. He said they would begin low power broadcasting from the Crest by Thanksgiving. They will be running at 300 watts. The signal should be strong enough to receive anywhere in the city limits with an outdoor antenna. They will go to full power in May, 2002. The low power NTSC station that was on 35 was ordered to vacate by the FCC.

KNME-DT will be passing through the PBS HD feed. It consists of a three hour loop, unless something else is on. So we will get all the PBS HD programming that's available. They will not be doing any local programming for years. They are looking for funding to build a new digital station to allow for local production. I think they're hitting on the private sector for that.

He confirmed that two of the commercial stations have equipment ordered for startup this fall. I told him that we had gotten word directly from KRQE that they were one of them. He wouldn't say who the other one is.

He invited me to the station to see what they're up to. He said their boardroom was fully equipped with direct view and projection, and a great sound system. Loren Bishop of Sound Ideas installed the sound system. I'll take him up on the offer. I think they may be willing to host a seminar too. He sounds enthusiastic about the future of television.

Pete

The way I understood it, they will be passing on the PBS feed unchanged. So whatever PBS is sending out, we'll get.

KNME won't have the ability to put anything on the digital channel EXCEPT the PBS feed. So we won't be getting up-converts of NTSC programming.

Pete

Thanks Pete! That's exactly what I wanted to hear.

Way to go KNME! Time to get out the checkbook. Maybe we need to see who is advertising on KRQE and start clueing them in on the high end market that will be watching HDTV (but not SDTV). Horton