For
Immediate Release
Lightning strike hastens Digital Transition for some viewers
of WHTJ-PBS
WHTJ’s analog transmitter permanently damaged.
WHTJ will provide digital
converter boxes to its members who don’t have cable or satellite service.
July 11, 2008, Charlottesville, VA –
The Digital Transition for television viewers is confusing enough without added
interference from Mother Nature. For some viewers of Charlottesville’s local PBS affiliate, that transition has been moved from February 17, 2009, to “right now,” due to bad weather.
On June
11, WHTJ-PBS’s main analog transmitter on Carter’s Mountain was damaged during
an electrical storm. WHTJ’s engineers were able to create a low-power solution
to keep the analog signal on the air, but it is operating at such a low level
that some over-the-air viewers of analog channel 41 are experiencing poor reception.
The
storm did not affect WHTJ’s three digital channels, which are operating
normally over the air, on Comcast cable and via satellite. WHTJ has notified
the FCC of the reduction in its analog power level.
Repairing
the transmitter, or replacing the damaged parts, turned out to be unrealistic
because many of the parts are obsolete.
“We
searched high and low for these parts, but many of them are simply no longer
available due to the FCC-mandated switch to all-digital broadcasting on
February 17, 2009. It’s like
shopping for a wooden telephone with a wind-up dial,” said WHTJ station manager
D.J. Crotteau.
With
a seven-month gap to fill, WHTJ had to find a way to keep all of its members
informed, educated and inspired with the PBS programs they rely on.
“We
have about 3,000 members in the Charlottesville region and we know that a
portion of these folks are still receiving our programming with an analog
antenna – as opposed to digital, cable or satellite,” said Crotteau. “All
of our members rely on WHTJ’s trusted children’s shows and our in-depth news
every day – so we had to find a solution.”
WHTJ put
together a plan to purchase wholesale digital converter boxes and make them
available to affected members who do not have cable or satellite service. A
letter will notify all members directly, outlining the specifics of the program.
“Basically,
members can bring the letter to our office, we’ll verify that they do not have
cable or satellite service, and then we’ll give them a digital converter box
that hooks up to just about any television – new or old” said Crotteau.
With a digital converter box, viewers will have access to all
three of WHTJ’s digital channels, along with a multitude of other local digital
channels from NBC29 and the Charlottesville Newsplex, which operates the local
ABC, CBS and FOX affiliates.
All of the digital channels arrive over the air, for free,
like regular television; but the picture quality is superior and program
information is available on screen. Many of the free digital channels are broadcast in high-definition. And
though these HD programs can be viewed with a regular TV hooked up to a
converter box, only viewers with a high-definition television set will
experience the programs in true HD.
WHTJ
Charlottesville PBS, whose studio and offices are located on Charlottesville’s
Downtown Mall, is the PBS member-station licensed by the FCC to serve
Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. WHTJ can be seen on cable channels
200, 201 and 220 and on digital channels 41.1, 41.2 and 41.3. WHTJ is
Charlottesville’s Community Idea Station, using the power of media to educate,
entertain and inspire.
Download the Press Release: Word | PDF
Contact:
D.J. Crotteau
434.295.6329
djcrotteau@whtj.org |
