Putting HDTV on the map in Oklahoma

The Switch from Analog to Digital TV:

Stations that changed channel positions from UHF (ultra high frequency) to VHF (very high frequency) were more impacted, showing a 13% share decline. This change in channel position created challenges in household receivability, since homes with “digital” antennas — which were only capable of receiving UHF signals — were not able to receive VHF digital signals and homes could not receive these channels without performing a re-scan of their converter boxes.

Courtesy Jack Hodgson, OSU broadcast journalism professor

Given the challenges voiced here receiving digital signals before and after the transition, I’m not surprised that some stations lost share when they transitioned from UHF to VHF. Perhaps that’s why KWTV might be transitioning back to UHF…

KWTV, responding to reports of weak signals in certain areas of the state, has begun broadcasting on both channel 9 on VHF and on their old UHF assignment, channel 39. Our cable system received no notification from them about this change, and noticed this morning that we are no longer receiving their channel 9 signal and had to switch to UHF 39. I don’t know if they plan to continue both signals or not. I will post an update after I visit with them later today (11/3).

I’ve started some interesting lists following people related to HDTV in Oklahoma @hdtvok using the new Twitter lists feature.

There are lists for programming, equipment, deals, local stations and other related Twitter accounts. I’m still tweaking it so can you suggest other things I should add to the lists?

I’m considering completely revamping the site in the next few months and these lists would be a major part of that project.

Clark Willis asks:

Do the blue bars added to KOCO 5 mean they are working on HD newscast?

I noticed the bars over the weekend and wondered the same thing. Does anyone have the inside scoop?

Dennis

From Cox Oklahoma’s Twitter feed via Philip Spicer:

Cox’s 8 New HD channels: NBA TV HD, NHL Network HD, ESPNU HD, MSNBC HD, WGN HD, CBS College Sports HD, The Movie Channel HD & MoreMax HD.

I meant to mention this a few days ago, but I’m occasionally posting updates on twitter and following people of interest for HD insights that I can bring back here. Follow if you must…

I noticed today that KSBI-TV is carrying the SEC Network game of the week in HD, which likely means as part of their recent move the station has upgraded its equipment.

They’ve also put out a press release saying the entire season of Oklahoma City Thunder NBA games will be in HD.
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Does anyone else find it silly that Inside Sooner Football is shown in glorious letterboxed standard definition on KWTV?

Clearly, the show is shot using HD cameras for the show, but apparently the producers aren’t intelligent enough to either zoom in on the frame when encoding for broadcast or to actually show it in high definition on KWTV’s HD channel.

Before my Cowboy friends try to revoke my Cowboy card, they should be aware that I only stumbled upon Stoops’ show and that that I really don’t care about football at all because it’s a sissy sport decided by judges in the media instead of on the field by players and coaches.

From approximately 9 AM to 4 PM on Wed., Sept, 3, KWTV will be operating at reduced power from their auxiliary antenna. The purpose of this outage is to perform repairs to the transmission line system on the main antenna. If they complete the repairs early, full power operation will be resumed as soon as possible. The reason for the repair is that a crew became available and a leak in the transmission line is significant.

Newshawk writes:

Yesterday (8/19/09), DirecTV added OETA stations KETA in OKC and KOED in Tulsa to those cities’ HD line up.

John W. writes:

I spoke to a cox rep earlier, and they have shuffled their lineup here in OKC (moving WGN to ch 19 and such). Apparently, when they did this, they also quit sending the clear QAM channels. I used to watch the HD locals through the cable on channels like 69.25 for FOX, 69.34 for CW, 84.4 for KFOR, etc. Now none of them are there anymore.

Update: Apparently, they shuffled the channel numbers during the update, but the channels are still available in the clear.

During most of the year, OETA carries great national programming from PBS and even produces some very good local programming. They carry as much or more high definition programming than the other major networks.

Except once a year when they go on the air to raise money. I understand that they need funding to make contributions toward all the great programming they carry the rest of the year, but during this one two week period the choices they make are just awful.

Tonight, while the rest of country was getting a new broadcast of Great Performances celebrating Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday, OETA is carrying a rerun of Great Performances from last December called “Hitman: David Foster & Friends” and featuring among others Celine Dion.

I’m sure that David Foster has written some great songs for Celine, but here’s what we’re missing from the official PBS press release for the new Pete Seeger episode:

Joining Seeger for this extraordinary concert event were more than 40 artists, including Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson, Richie Havens, Roger McGuinn, Ani DiFranco, Taj Mahal, Ben Harper, Dave Matthews, and many others who performed songs inspired by Seeger.

They will be airing the Pete Seeger special on August 7th, but there’s no guarantee it’ll be in HD. And between now then they’ll be finding the worst programming in their archives to fill the time. As an example, the Bruce Springsteen concert they have scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. will be on OETA OKLA, their dedicated SD channel while Lawrence Welk will be on their regular HD channel.

Maybe I’m getting old, but if OETA wants people under 70 to donate money, they should find some programming performed by people under 70.

KFOR local news goes HD tonight! There still will be a mix of SD and HD video probably for a good while but at least the studio camera shots are HD. This is a big hurdle, hats off the engineers! Upgrade done is 24 hours, Wow!

Nice intro logo!

I got an email to watch KFOR-DT tonight at 10 PM. I have no idea what they are going to announce.

Today is the day!. I believe KOCO analog is going to go off the air at 9AM today. I am not sure about the other stations, so let us know what is going on out there.