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Digital TV Note |
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated all analog TV broadcasting to cease as of February 17, 2009.
By February 18, 2009 all AlaskaOne viewers who receive our signal via an antenna will need to have purchased either a set-top digital TV tuner (commonly referred to as an ATSC Tuner) or a television which includes an Digital/ATSC Tuner to continue receiving the signal. All new televisions sold after March 1, 2007 are required by law to include the new ATSC Tuner.
While some older sets may remain on the shelf at retail outlets, they are required to be labeled as to whether they include the new Digital/ATSC tuner. If you currently receive AlaskaOne via cable, satellite, or some method other than over-the-air antenna, you may not need to make any provisions for the conversion to digital broadcasting. Check with your service provider for details.
Today in Fairbanks and Juneau, AlaskaOne viewers can receive new digital TV services over the transmitters of KUAC and KTOO. Both AlaskaOne stations are providing free digital TV service over the air in Fairbanks on Digital Channel 24 and in Juneau on Digital Channel 10. If you have a Digital/ATSC tuner in Fairbanks or Juneau, you can tune in these digital services today and you are essentially prepared for the Digital TV Conversion deadline in February 2009.
If you are watching AlaskaOne over-the-air in Bethel or one of our translator communities, plans are being made to either continue the analog service after the 2009 deadline or convert those signals to digital.
When people think of Digital TV, the most common attribute associated with this new technology is the ability to broadcast in High Definition. HDTV can provide superior video resolution and audio quality when compared to today’s analog transmissions. Other options being considered by TV broadcasters include the opportunity to provide secondary video services along side the primary service in a technique commonly referred to as multi-casting. Through multi-casting, a station may provide several program options simultaneously, offering additional viewer choices.
While Digital TV Broadcasting provides the potential for many new and innovative services that will vary from city to city and station to station, the only mandate by the FCC is to change the primary transmission standard for video services from analog to digital. Offering HDTV, multi-casting or any other service is at the discretion of the individual station.
AlaskaOne stations in Fairbanks and Juneau are currently experimenting both with multi-cast technology and some HDTV programming as it becomes available from PBS. As we approach the February 2009 deadline, you can expect to hear more about these services on the air and at our website.
A coupon program is being planned beginning January 1, 2008 to help defray the cost of Digital/ATSC Set Top Boxes (expected to cost around $40). Click here for more information.
To find out more about the Digital Television Conversion, visit this web site.
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