WLWT Goes Widescreen But Not True HD

It’s not true HDTV — like Channels 9, 12 & 19 — but Channel 5 has started broadcasting news in a widescreen format, to fill up your HD screen like the other guys. Here’s how Richard Dyer, WLWT-TV president and general manager, explains it:

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2010/01/21/channel-5-goes-widescreen-but-not-true-hdtv/

Former WBKI Station Manager Sues Former Employers

Former WBKI station manager and morning show co-host Dan Spangler has filed a lawsuit in Jefferson Circuit Court against the owners of the station, claiming he was wrongfully terminated last June.

http://www.louisvillemojo.com/blogs/Louisville_Blogs/84267/Spangler_Sues_Station__Charges_Religious_Discrimination

FCC Proposing Changing WCPO's Channel Assignment

The FCC has proposed allowing Scripps' ABC affiliate WCPO-TV Cincinnati to move its channel assignment so it can reach more viewers with its digital signal.

The station told the commission that after the June 12 DTV switch it "received a large number of telephone calls and emails from viewers unable to receive the station's new digital service."

It was not alone.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/357108-FCC_Proposes_Changing_WCPO_Channel_Assignment.php

WSTR Updates Power, Signal Strength

Sinclair's WSTR, the MNT affiliate in Cincinnati (DMA 33) on ch. 33, has replaced its main transmission antenna with a new one that the station says will allow WSTR to reach many more viewers in the greater Cincinnati area.

A Dielectric omni-directional fully circular polarized UHF antenna was installed on Sept. 22, atop the "Star Tower" located on Winton Road in Cincinnati's College Hill neighborhood.

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/articles/2009/09/24/daily.5/

WFIE Making Changes to Its Digital Lineup

Two weeks ago, I mentioned in my column that 14WFIE-NBC would be making some changes to its channel lineup, but at that time, I didn’t have the go-ahead to explain all of those changes in detail.

Now, however, the details are in and I can share what I know.

Currently, WFIE offers three subchannels. The first, 14.1, is the regular broadcast channel that offers the NBC programming we’re all familiar with. The station’s First Alert weather information runs on 14.2, and ThisTV is on 14.3.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/sep/25/jacob-newkirks-weekly-look-local-tv/

WCPO Requests New Digital Channel

Still plagued with viewers' digital TV reception complaints, WCPO-TV (Channel 9) has asked the federal government for a new TV channel.

The ABC affiliate requested to switch to UHF Channel 22 - from VHF Channel 10 - because the VHF signal does not carry as far as, or penetrate buildings as well as the analog signal turned off June 12.

A new digital antenna installed in July, and a 47 percent power boost last month, did not eliminate reception complaints, the station told the Federal Communications Commission last week.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090921/ENT/309210065/Ch.+9+requests+new+digital+channel

Blogger Shows Folks How to Build Their Own Antenna

I'd like to start off this week by thanking everyone who took the time to get in touch with me. I've answered 25 to 30 e-mails from readers.
Probably the top concern of those who've written to me involves problems getting certain stations. WEHT-ABC25 is, as I figured it would be, the hardest station for most folks to get. There is some good news to report: The station has taken delivery of its new transmission antenna, and hopefully that will solve many problems. But we won't know for sure until it's installed and operational.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/sep/17/build-your-own-antenna-from-things-around-the/

Why One Viewer Rethought Cutting the Cable Cord

Over the past few years I have written several columns about the impending death of cable in the face of Internet-distributed content.
With the rise of the iTunes Store, Netflix Instant Streaming and Hulu as distribution systems for television and movies, cable should be scared.
Being the cutting edge technology columnist that I am, I thought it was time that I eat my own dog food, cut the cable and adopt these Internet services as my primary means of television consumption. So three months ago I unplugged my TiVo and returned my CableCards to my cable provider with the confidence that I could replace their service with the Internet.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/sep/11/cutting-cable-experiment-works-until-its-time-to/

Local TV Still Ironing Out Digital Lineups

Growing up in the Tri-State means I've witnessed a lot of memorable TV moments over the years.
Strikes.
Plane crashes.
Personnel changes.
Severe weather.
The 1995 "great affiliate switch" that saw WTVW, WEHT and WEVV all change networks.
But nothing has captured my attention the way that the recent switch to digital television has.
Television in the Tri-State today is, if anything, even more interesting than it's ever been. Even for those — such as myself — who refuse to subscribe to cable, the choices available to us are great.
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/sep/10/no-headline---10b10tv-col/

WEHT's Work on Antenna Shuts Them Down

It looks like WEHT [25.1 ABC/25.2 RTV] is about ready to take the next step in their new antenna project, but, according to the following message on their website, they'll have to spend most of Saturday off the air (and, for safety purposes for those working on the tower, it's understandable):
http://jakesdtvblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/getting-you-closer-weht-tower-work.html

ThinkTV and Time Warner Cable at Odds

Think TV Communications manager Sue Brinson said that a Time Warner Cable official contacted Public Media Connect shortly after this article was posted. No decision has been made about the proposal discussed below.
After getting no response from Time Warner Cable about alternatives to dropping seven local public television channels, ThinkTV is taking its message to the public.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/seen_and_overheard/entries/2009/08/12/thinktv_customers_will_lose_cr.html

Significant Signal Issues at WEHT?

Evansville ABC/RTV affiliate WEHT is mentioned throughout this post. I'm fairly blunt in my own assessment of the station's (significant) signal issues, and I am also firm in my belief that what they're doing now will, more than likely, not be sufficient to take care of the problems at hand.

http://jakesdtvblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/vhf-vs-uhf-revisited-why-weht-just-wont.html

Jake's DTV Blog - Poll for Evansville Market Readers

Good morning, readers! I have now posted the August poll questions, which for this month will be geared to our Evansville-market readers who watch OVER THE AIR only, so for those of you who read us in the Bowling Green, Louisville and Nashville markets, please do not vote this month.Of course, if you have a poll question you'd like to submit for a station or topic in your area, you are most welcome to do so.

http://jakesdtvblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/august-polls-now-up-and-running.html

WXIX's Analog Signoff

WXIX's analog signoff. Watch and see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzLYpNaZsQ0

See WOSU's Analog Signoff

See WOSU's analog signoff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=posvUvOmuYI

PBS Developing Digital Learning Library

PBS today announced the launch of the PBS Digital Learning Library, a PBS system-wide online repository of digital education assets from public broadcasting programs and services nationwide. The PBS Digital Learning Library will be a comprehensive source of "learning objects," including video, audio, images, games, and interactive simulations designed specifically for classroom use, delivered to teachers exclusively through local PBS stations. Services to deliver these resources to teachers and learners will be available in fall 2009.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/06/prweb2586424.htm

2 Lexington Stations Finally Make the Switch to Digital

The national transition to digital television finishes Friday with Lexington's final two stations — NBC affiliate WLEX-18 and Fox affiliate WDKY-56 — ending their analog transmissions.

WLEX will switch just before NBC's Today begins at 7 a.m. and will be discussing the shutoff during its local newscasts from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. Telephone assistance for viewers will be available all day and throughout the weekend; call (859) 259-1818.

http://www.kentucky.com/263/story/827618.html

What's The Digital Cliff?

As a TV viewer for 57 years, Larry Reddig was looking forward to the change to digital television with enthusiasm.

Reddig, who lives about 10 miles north of Newark, bought a 40-inch HDTV and set up a 60-foot antenna so that he would have a clear shot at all of his favorite Columbus stations.

What he didn't realize was that his hope of clear, worry-free TV viewing had gone off the digital cliff.

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/06/24/DIGITAL_CLIFF.ART_ART_06-24-09_A1_LPE97TK.html?sid=101

Digi Channels Enjoy Brave New Post-DTV World

For stations, getting calls from hundreds of viewers on and around June 12 spelled a nightmare. For digital channels such as Retro Television and This TV, hearing from the masses in the dawn of fully digital television hinted at how big the multicast business might get.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/295341-Digi_Channels_Enjoy_Brave_New_Post_DTV_World.php

Digi Channels Enjoy Brave New Post-DTV World

For stations, getting calls from hundreds of viewers on and around June 12 spelled a nightmare. For digital channels such as Retro Television and This TV, hearing from the masses in the dawn of fully digital television hinted at how big the multicast business might get.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/295341-Digi_Channels_Enjoy_Brave_New_Post_DTV_World.php