WFIE GM: We'll Switch on Feb 17 anyway

[PTBoardOp94]

In an interview with WIKY, Debbie Bush, the general manager of 14 WFIE, says they will switch to digital broadcasting on Feb 17 regardless of what President-Elect Obama and Congress decide to do.

I'm guessing this is not uncommon. However, it could be interesting, if, for instance, Fox 7 (WTVW) wants to stay analog until the new cutoff date and WEHT wants to go all-digital. Could make it more of a mess than it already is ...

 

[1bignobody]

this is what needs to happen. many stations have their analog equipment being held on the air with duct tape and bailing twine. i'm not shocked one bit.

if the government does change the date.. sigh.. didn't obama run on a campagin of change?! ;D

 

[RDO]

Is it a Right to have TV?

Let the switch happen as planned. If people lose their TV, big deal.

Let's stop catering to the clueless. ???

 

[radiorob2.0]

Is it a Right to have TV?

Let the switch happen as planned. If people lose their TV, big deal.

Let's stop catering to the clueless. ???

Only ten or so percent of the population would be affected. If you have cable or satellite nothing changes, you will still find WFIE on Channel 4 on most cable systems, Channel 14 on Dish and whatever it would be on Direct.

 

[KyDXIn]

this is what needs to happen. many stations have their analog equipment being held on the air with duct tape and bailing twine. i'm not shocked one bit.

if the government does change the date.. sigh.. didn't obama run on a campagin of change?! ;D

After 8 years of George W. Bush... pocket change is all I have left...

 

[skippertthomas]

We should leave the political to the off line! Demos ran the congress the last two years and Bush ran the White House with weird technique.. But, it is mostly OUR FAULT for running up our credit cards and thinking we have a right to 'entitilements'... We want Gov't to pay for what they can't and we want change, but without sacrifice.. Carter was bold to suggest we pull up our shirtsleaves and bring down inflation, but his own party laughed at him and went on spending.. And the Repbubs did the same thing for six years with Bush... On the note of DTV.....I must agree... With the 'dixie cup and string' systems holding the analog systems together (Remember WEVV's fiasco last year, just to get parts for the return to full power?) I think our new President will let the FCC and those who have been in the 'sync' of this, continue the course... I am deciding if I want to buy a box or go back to "Dish"...... I live about 35 miles from the three UHF sticks on the ridge above Audubon Park, and 27 from the '7' stick in Chandler and 30 from the '9' stick off Yankeetown Road, south of Boonville.......

 

[radiorob2.0]

If you interested, I experience life after the transition. Wilmington, NC TV stations turned off their analog transmitters several months ago. What you saw on cable was a 4:3 picture. So again, if you have cable or satellite you life will not change.

By the way, the byproduct of this transition is the lack of portable televisions with digital tuners. My family in Wilmington are concerned when the next hurricane hits since they and others would rely on their battery television for information during loss of power. It seems their local radio is pretty useless for information.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

By the way, the byproduct of this transition is the lack of portable televisions with digital tuners. My family in Wilmington are concerned when the next hurricane hits since they and others would rely on their battery television for information during loss of power. It seems their local radio is pretty useless for information.

It seems EVERYONE has forgotten this little known fact of life! I was told by Tom Webber at CH 8 that Best Lie has a battery powered digital. This is the only one I know of. The old audio only toys were plenty and inexpensive.

Time for radio to make a change to make this work for US?

 

[KyDXIn]

We should leave the political to the off line!

Sorry! Said what I said to be taken in a joking manner as opposed to being a political statement...

 

[skippertthomas]

Kydx.... Tongue in cheek, understood.... It would be easy for me to defend a viewpoint, as well...Except, I see holes in every viewpoint (on that issue).... I did not take offense.... I guess I was ribbing, as well! I wish the BEST to all who serve up there.. I, as a middle aged man, see the majority of the folks on "The Hill" more concerned with power (on both sides), then with serving the best interest of their neighbors, family and friends.. Votes seem to be their guiding light! I think that makes me a "Churchillian"....Ol' 60's open dialoge liberal with a ton of middle aged Reagan conservative... We all have various angles..That makes us who we are! Amen! ;D

 

[radiorob2.0]

By the way, the byproduct of this transition is the lack of portable televisions with digital tuners. My family in Wilmington are concerned when the next hurricane hits since they and others would rely on their battery television for information during loss of power. It seems their local radio is pretty useless for information.

It seems EVERYONE has forgotten this little known fact of life! I was told by Tom Webber at CH 8 that Best Lie has a battery powered digital. This is the only one I know of. The old audio only toys were plenty and inexpensive.

Time for radio to make a change to make this work for US?

If radio were to attempt a mandated "we're going to turn off the analog" , the consumer would say "So what!" The reason this TV transition will go basically unnoticed is because of cable/satellite penetration. Even those with an antenna will purchase their government subsidized converter box and easily add it to a CRT analog television. Radio is a portable/mobile medium. So radio would become a thing of a past if all of those analog radios were to become obsolete.