email from WNYT; RE: HD programs not in HD

[Skaggs]

Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 8:11 AM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Over the Air non-retransmission of HDTV programs
January 31, 2004

Dear Mr. Klein:

During this past week (1/26/04 to 1/30/04), most of the primetime programs were not retransmitted from NBC in HDTV. For example, Las Vegas, Whoopi, Tonight Show, ER, and Third Watch were all transmitted over the air in standard definition. The picture was displayed on my 16:9 widescreen HDTV with black vertical bars on the left and right side of the screen. I can see from the NBC website that these shows air in HDTV.

Would you please let me know why this happens?

Is there something I can do to notify your station when this happens again?

While I appreciate your station's upgrade to digital broadcasts, it is diappointing to have to watch a program in standard definition that I know is shown in HDTV, especially after investing a substantial amount of money in an over-the-air receiver and antenna.

p.s. There is no mention of HDTV on your website. Perhaps Chris Rooney start a FAQ or INFO page on this subject to keep us informed of the latest WNYT-HDTV developments. Thanks.

===========================

From: Richard Klein
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 2:38 PM
Subject: RE: Over the Air non-retransmission of HDTV programs

We were fully aware that there was no HD programming. NBC HD programming
was not available to us due to changes they made in their distribution system.
We were back receiving the HD programming from NBC as of Monday evening.

We are working on adding information regarding all aspects of digital over the air
broadcasting, including HD. We should have something on the site sometime later
this month.

Rich

Richard E. Klein
Director of Engineering,
WNYT-TV
[phone]
[e-mail]

=============================

Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 11:02 PM
To: Richard Klein
Subject: Re: Over the Air non-retransmission of HDTV programs

Mr. Klein:

Thank you for replying to my email.

Contrary to your statements, Law & Order:SVU was not shown in HD on Tuesday, 2/3/04.

Again, it is diappointing to have to watch a program in standard definition that I know is shown in HDTV, especially after investing a substantial amount of money in an over-the-air receiver and antenna.

Please let me know if I should call the station (and what number to call) to notify WNYT when HD programs are being shown in SD.

=============================

From: Richard Klein
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 9:24 AM
Subject: RE: Over the Air non-retransmission of HDTV programs

Law and order was not available to WNYT in HD last night. We can only pass through those programs
in HD that we have access to, and have no direct control over what NBC makes available to us.

Rich

==========================

Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 3:37 PM
To: Richard Klein
Subject: Re: Over the Air non-retransmission of HDTV programs

Mr. Klein:

I was mistakenly going by what it says on the NBC website and assuming that the "HDTV" logo next to the program name meant that the program was broadcast in HDTV.

Could you please tell me how the viewer is to know when WNYT will broadcast the HDTV program?

=============================

From: Richard Klein
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 4:07 PM
Subject: RE: Over the Air non-retransmission of HDTV programs

I wish I could, but even we do not know ahead of time with any certainty whether or not a specific episode will be in HD. I expect this to improve as we go through this year.

Rich