More on Peoria from Jokinjer1 on AVS Forum:
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-lo...on/412347-peoria-il-hdtv-73.html#post31941921
It's bad enough that some stations, such as WEEK & most Granite stations, have stopped at digital widescreen 480p as opposed to going full HD 1080i. But for WMBD, which is Peoria's most watched station overall, to still be broadcasting in 4:3 is just ridiculous. Even tiny KHQA is at least in digital widescreen (tiny WGEM is in HD). Nexstar gave the digital widescreen treatment to a few stations last year which would not be going HD just yet. WMBD didn't even get that upgrade. WMBD is far more profitable than some of the Nexstar stations which have been fully renovated over the past 3 years.
Yes, seeing WMBD still broadcasting in 4:3 angers me. But their policy of continuing to blatantly ignore viewers who complain is the straw that broke the camel's back for me. Not very many Peorians are complaining about WEEK & WMBD not being in HD, I'm one of only a handful because the others simply don't know what they're missing. In other markets, far more people have complained. However, WMBD does continue to get complaints related to their inability to show syndicated programming in HD. Every time there's a sports event broadcast in 4:3, they get dogged with complaints, and yet they never bother to respond to any of those complaints. I find their shunning inexcusably rude. It shows they don't operate in the interest of the viewer, nor do they give a crap. That's why WMBD and Nexstar have totally lost my support. At least WEEK will sometimes answer these complaints, though they are not always truthful or even professional.
And even though WMBD doesn't have a single Meteorologist with a CBM, AMS or NWA certification, as well as a horrible turnover rate, I still like them better than WEEK. Both stations are horrible for technical glitches and failures. But I'll have to watch WEEK when forced. Otherwise I'm thankful for access to superior neighboring stations.
The next person who wants to criticize me or call me an armchair manager (as "peoria555" did last July) better first look into what is happening at virtually every other tv market, and provide me with some real answers, instead of just copping-out that there's no money in Peoria. Peoria is not the poorest market in the nation. If Erie PA can do it TWICE, than so can Peoria. Some Terre Haute & South Bend IN, Youngstown OH, Carbondale IL stations have already converted a few years ago as well. BTW, "peoria555" never did answer me back on why almost every other market is there. Perhaps "peoria555", or any of the others who have criticized me over the years, could also tell me why Peoria is now the biggest market without an hd newscast. He mentioned he worked at WEEK & WMBD. But i guess it is possible to work at those 2 stations and only those 2 stations, which would therefore make somebody oblivious of the national trend.
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-lo...on/412347-peoria-il-hdtv-73.html#post31941921