Some Markets Switching Early?

[egrabow]

Hi group,
We had a staff meeting at my station (WBBH/WZVN) today and the GM told us that the FCC is looking into shutting off analog early in a few markets. Fort Myers/Naples, FL is being considered as one of the 'test markets'. If picked, our analogs will shut off in June.

Anyone heard about this?

[w9wi]

Commissioner Copps proposed (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-228A1.doc) converting some markets early. ISTR reading somewhere where Commissioner Tate got on board with that idea. I'd not heard it reached the point where specific markets were being proposed.

I don't think they can force a market to convert early. Seems to me your analog licenses are valid through February 17 and can only be cancelled for cause. If they could get all the licensees in the market on board voluntarily it could fly. If any one licensee decided they didn't want to go early, they could litigate it and I doubt the suit would even get its first hearing before February. (and if one refuses to go early I'd bet the rest would find it competitively necessary to refuse as well)

If they are going to do it I suppose you're the right market to try... as it looks like WGCU is the only station in the market that isn't already at full post-transition facilities... and all they need is a slightly bigger transmitter, they already have their full-power permit and it seems to specify their existing antenna.)

[egrabow]

I'd not heard it reached the point where specific markets were being proposed.

I don't think they can force a market to convert early.

Apparently, there were 10 candidate markets and 4 dropped out (leaving us and 5 others), I think it was a voluntary thing. The station management loves the idea, so if Ft. Myers drops out it wasn't because of us.

[cd637299]

Ryan,

Just wondering.....was Ft Myers/Naples chosen, because the TV stations there are ignoring the analog channel branding? Just a hunch....

cd

[egrabow]

I doubt the branding has anything to do with it. The point of the test is to see how chaotic and outraged people will get in smaller areas before the Second American "We Want Our TV Back" Revolution breaks out nationwide. ;-)

Since most markets use actual channel numbers, Ft. Myers may not yield accurate results. Our transition would go more smoothly if anything (WBBH and WZVN have been treating themselves as if they were cable-only for several years anyway - we won't have to update the IDs or anything!)

[egrabow]

Looks like Fort Myers won't be one of the markets after all... we're a high-risk for hurricanes and someone just realized they don't make battery-powered emergency HDTVs. :duh:

[indysteve]

By Michele Greppi and Ira Teinowitz

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is set to announce Thursday that it will run a test of the switch to digital broadcasting signals in Wilmington, N.C., the smallest TV market in the Tarheel state, sources said.

The congressionally mandated national switch to digital takes place Feb. 19. The FCC didn't return multiple calls seeking comment.

The test in North Carolina, Mr. Martin's home state, is likely to take place before the November sweeps ratings period. If things do not go smoothly during the trial run, it could affect stations’ revenues during one of the months used to set advertising rates for the next fiscal quarter.

The Wilmington market, served by affiliates of all the major networks, is the 135th largest measured by Nielsen Media Research, which says 179,760 of the 182,500 homes in the area have televisions.

WWAY-TV, owned by Morris Multimedia, is the ABC affiliate in the area. NBC-affiliated WECT-TV and Fox-affiliated WSFX-TV are owned by Raycom Media. WILM-TV is the CBS affiliate owned by Capitol Broadcasting Co. WMYW-LP is the MyNetworkTV affiliate, and The CW has a cable-only affiliate. The market gets its public broadcast signal from WUNJ-TV.

Local broadcasters did not return calls seeking comment.

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps has been pushing for a test in a small market that met certain criteria, including that all broadcast stations’ digital signals already are on the air on the same channels where they will be found when the official digital switch takes place.

The idea is to learn, among other things, how many TV homes may be unprepared for the transition, which will require viewers to have digital sets, boxes that can convert digital broadcast signals to analog on older sets, or delivery of programs by cable or satellite services.

The sources who confirmed the announcement of the test weren't able to say when it may begin. However, the trial run will be preceded by a big education campaign by local stations about converter boxes and the availability of coupons worth $40 toward the purchase of the converters through local retailers.

Throughout the country, some 1 million coupons have been used as part of the National Telecommunications & Information Administration’s converter box coupon program, according to recent information.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/05/s...mington_nc.php
__________________

[indysteve]

Orlando Stations to Test Analog Switch-Off (Starting in June)

Planned Turnoffs Designed to Educate Viewers

By Glen Dickson -- Broadcasting & Cable

On the same day Federal Communications Commission chairman Kevin Martin formally announced that Wilmington, N.C., will serve as the test market for the end of the digital-TV transition by having its stations switch off their analog signals early and go all-digital in September, 11 stations in the Orlando, Fla., market announced that they will try to help smooth the DTV transition by simulating the Feb. 17, 2009, analog turnoff at various points this summer.

The test program -- which mimics a simulated analog shutdown conducted by NBC affiliate KVBC Las Vegas last week -- will involve three test broadcasts between June and the end of the year, with the first test scheduled for June 25 at 7:59 p.m.

Participating stations -- which will heavily promote the tests in advance -- will turn off the video feed to their analog transmitter for one minute, thus disrupting service for viewers who rely on over-the-air signals. Viewers who watch the stations through digital-TV sets, or those who receive them through cable or satellite operators that receive direct feeds from the stations, won’t lose service and will instead see a congratulatory message telling them they’ve passed the test.

At the conclusion of each test, stations will notify viewers that if their screen went blank, they need to take corrective action, and will direct them to government Web sites and toll-free numbers where they can get information about their DTV-transition options, such as getting a digital-to-analog converter box.

Participating stations include WESH-TV channel 2 (Hearst-Argyle Television), WKMG-TV channel 6 (Post-Newsweek Stations), WFTV-TV channel 9 (Cox Enterprises), WCEU-TV channel 15 (Daytona Beach Community College District), WKCF-TV channel 18 (Hearst-Argyle), WMFE-TV channel 24 (Community Communications), WVEN-TV channel 26 (Entravision Communications), WRDQ-TV channel 27 (Cox), WOTF-TV channel 43 (Univision Communications), WTGL-TV channel 45 (Good Life Broadcasting) and WBCC-TV channel 68 (Brevard Community College).

“One of the biggest questions viewers have is, ‘Will this affect me?’ This test will answer that,” explained consortium spokesperson Richard Monn, WESH/WKCF-TV chief engineer. “To the best of our knowledge, the marketwide test we’re proposing has not been utilized or attempted by any other alliance of broadcasters in the country.”