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I flipped the switch

D

daryll

Sometimes in life you get to do things that are totally unexpected but mean a great deal in hindsight. On the morning of June 12th at 1:02 local time, 13WMAZ Macon ceased analog broadcasts from their 22 year-old 30Kw NEC transmitter. As an account executive of the station, former director and life-long TV junkie, I got permission to be at the transmitter site for the final analog sign-off. The Chief Engineer even allowed me to shoot tape of the old transmitter facility plus the brand new building and its sleek new Harris Platinum series transmitter that's inside. As the time approached for dropping the analog, the CE asked me to stand near the old NEC and do him a favor. Being caught up in the moment, I had no idea what he needed. With the camera in my right hand and my left hand on the front panel main power switch, he calmly said flip it to the left and I did. As my DV camera rolled, still camera flashes filled the room at that moment as the sound quickly changed from transmitter exhaust blowers to one of near total silence. This was the end of the last full-power analog station in Macon. I've routinely signed-off television and radio stations before but I don't think it fully sunk in how special this was until I was driving home. I owe the CE and the GM an enormous amount of gratitude for this special and totally unexpected opportunity.
 
Was Larry and your other brother Daryll there too? Sorry couldn't pass that up.

Congrats on the flip and making everyone receive a better picture.

Look forward to the video.
 
My brother said he saw some video of this on WMAZ. I couldn't find it on their website, though.
 
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