Post by dkennedy on Sept 5, 2007 5:23:47 GMT -5
DIRECTV: 'Optimistic' For Digital TV Switch Fix
The satellite industry has warned the FCC that some local stations may delay in providing digital signals.
September 5, 2007
By Phillip Swann, tvpredictions.com
DIRECTV said last night that it's 'optimistic' that it will meet the federal deadline for switching all local stations from analog to digital.
DIRECTV and satellite rival EchoStar last week warned the Federal Communications Commission they may not be able to deliver all local TV signals in digital when the nation switches to Digital TV on February 17, 2009.
On the Digital TV transition date, all local broadcasters must switch their analog signals to digital which means viewers will need a pay TV service, a Digital TV or a digital converter box to watch television.
But in statements submitted last week to the FCC, the satcasters say they likely won't be ready by February 17, 2009 if local broadcasters delay in switching from analog to digital.
Consequently, satellite viewers of local channels that delay could lose those channels on the transition day (and for a period of time thereafter) because DIRECTV and EchoStar would not have time to convert the analog signals to digital.
But Robert Mercer, a DIRECTV spokesman, told TVPredictions.com last night that an "overwhelming majority" of local stations are now transmitting in both analog and digital, meaning their digital signals are already available for the transition day.
In addition, Mercer expressed hope that the FCC will grant the satellite industry's request to force local stations to reveal their digital plans by December 2007 and/or give satcasters more time to convert to digital if some stations wait until the last minute to make the switch.
"So we're optimistic that we will make the transition.
And the FCC will likely address the cut off issue," Mercer said.
However, Mercer acknowledged that some stations could still delay in switching to digital which could cause viewing disruptions on transition day.
"We also hope that the limited number of stations that need to flashcut (switch to digital on or near the transition day) would work with us in advance to establish a means to deliver us a good quality signal and avoid any disruption in service," he said.
Noting that it now offers local TV service in 175 markets, EchoStar told the FCC last week that it would be impossible to switch each station's signal from analog to digital in a short period of time.
"Given the magnitude of the switch-over...even conducting the transition over a matter of many months would be a substantial hurdle," EchoStar stated.
The satellite industry has warned the FCC that some local stations may delay in providing digital signals.
September 5, 2007
By Phillip Swann, tvpredictions.com
DIRECTV said last night that it's 'optimistic' that it will meet the federal deadline for switching all local stations from analog to digital.
DIRECTV and satellite rival EchoStar last week warned the Federal Communications Commission they may not be able to deliver all local TV signals in digital when the nation switches to Digital TV on February 17, 2009.
On the Digital TV transition date, all local broadcasters must switch their analog signals to digital which means viewers will need a pay TV service, a Digital TV or a digital converter box to watch television.
But in statements submitted last week to the FCC, the satcasters say they likely won't be ready by February 17, 2009 if local broadcasters delay in switching from analog to digital.
Consequently, satellite viewers of local channels that delay could lose those channels on the transition day (and for a period of time thereafter) because DIRECTV and EchoStar would not have time to convert the analog signals to digital.
But Robert Mercer, a DIRECTV spokesman, told TVPredictions.com last night that an "overwhelming majority" of local stations are now transmitting in both analog and digital, meaning their digital signals are already available for the transition day.
In addition, Mercer expressed hope that the FCC will grant the satellite industry's request to force local stations to reveal their digital plans by December 2007 and/or give satcasters more time to convert to digital if some stations wait until the last minute to make the switch.
"So we're optimistic that we will make the transition.
And the FCC will likely address the cut off issue," Mercer said.
However, Mercer acknowledged that some stations could still delay in switching to digital which could cause viewing disruptions on transition day.
"We also hope that the limited number of stations that need to flashcut (switch to digital on or near the transition day) would work with us in advance to establish a means to deliver us a good quality signal and avoid any disruption in service," he said.
Noting that it now offers local TV service in 175 markets, EchoStar told the FCC last week that it would be impossible to switch each station's signal from analog to digital in a short period of time.
"Given the magnitude of the switch-over...even conducting the transition over a matter of many months would be a substantial hurdle," EchoStar stated.