Jacksonville: WTLV news

Here's another tidbit from Bill that should interest you all-

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Hello,


We have been notified that the Derby will be available in HD. It is Saturday at 5 PM. We are planning to switch to the HD feed and stay with it for the entire hour, so there will be no local commercials, a bonus for our HD viewers.


Regarding your question about how we switch from standard to HD, we can program our automation to make the switches. We have to add the switches to the playlist manually, but once in place, it is hands free.


As always, comments and reception reports are welcome.


William B. Schneider

Chief Engineer WTLV / WJXX

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Quote:
Just got off the phone with Ken Tonning. Hadn't spoken with him in a number of years so it was good to "catch up". Anyhow...


He wanted me to pass on his thanks for recognizing the special effort they made in getting the Olympics to you in HD. You may already know this but apparently they were all set to go when some of their equipment went on the fritz. They "swapped out" the necessary equipment with a non-NBC affiliate and got it all to work just prior to the Olympics. They've since given it back and had their equipment repaired.


As a result, and as I'm sure you know...they are now broadcasting in HD. He also told me they expect to have their ABC affiliate up and running within a month.


When I mentioned to him that some thought he said he'd never do HDTV, he said that simply wasn't true. As a result, his "opinion on HDTV" was always PRO-HD...not against.


I thanked him profusely for his leadership in making HD a reality in Jax. Hey, you never know...as we still own a home off of Ft. Caroline...we may move back to Jax when I retire in 3 or so years. That was the game plan but man has that town grown...too big. I remember when JTB was built on Skinner's land. Nothing on either side of the road...just a straight shot out to Jax Beach. Some thought it was built only for the convenience of Jake Godbold...maybe so.


Hope that helps my friend. Blitzburgh...GO STEELERS!!

Blitzburgh-


Thanks for the info on ABC and yes, most of what you said on the tech side, I knew about but I'm happy you cleared that up about Ken's attitude last year about HDTV. Funny, the impression the station management had given their people was that "We won't go HDTV until the FCC drags us kicking and screaming, Just look at the junk we have to use to shoot news. HDTV, Ha Ha Ha" Ok that was how the conversation went and you know what people think- policy and direction is from the station manager not from the news photogs... Anyway, history now speaks for itself and the last doubt I had, you have cleared up. I'm a happy camper and behind Ken's efforts ever since they went the extra mile during the Olympics.


As for the other stations, not yet on the air in DT... well I guess they will have to pay the government now to keep their channel when it is up for auction.


I also think it is really cool how you are participating in this thread. Thanks!

Quote:
Thanks Don...It was my pleasure to call Ken to gain some insight that I could share with you good folks. Ken's a fine person and am sure he'll want to keep his station(s) first in everything...including HD/DT.


Oh and Ralph...yup, I expect things will improve quite a bit by the time I make it back to Jax. After all, it's not all fun and games here in the 'burgh. Shovelin' snow isn't my idea of a good time though, unlike you folks, I don't have to mow grass 11 months of the year


Still, if for no other reason I'd likely move us back to Jax for the flat lands of Florida. You've got to have far better reception capabilities than do we here in the hills of western PA.


Take care...