WMHT to make early digital debut
Station will end analog signal before required June date
By CHRIS CHURCHILL, Times Union Business writer, First published: Thursday, April 9, 2009Link to article NORTH GREENBUSH — Public television station WMHT will end its analog television signal next week, making it the first major outlet in the Capital Region to make the federally ordered transition to a digital-only service.
The switch to digital was set to occur in February until Congress, worried the move would leave many without television, delayed the move until June 17.
But WMHT Educational Telecommunications Inc. in North Greenbush has decided not to wait for June, a move allowed by the Federal Communications Commission, and will end analog broadcasting April 16.
Scott Sauer, senior vice president at WMHT, said the move will save the station money, as it is expensive to operate both analog and digital transmitters. And he said station executives also are convinced most Capital Region viewers are prepared for the change.
"We decided it was in our best interest not to wait," he said.
WMHT is seen on Ch. 17 for analog broadcasting. Its digital signal will be seen on Ch. 34.
Television stations have always used analog signals for over-the-air broadcasting. But Congress in 2005 ordered the change to digital to free airwaves for other purposes.
The changeover does not affect subscribers to cable or satellite services. But it requires that viewers receiving TV the old-fashioned way — with rabbit ears — either buy a digital-ready television or install a converter box.
Other Capital Region stations will closely watch WMHT's move. Many were privately chagrined by the Congressional decision to delay the change, in part because stations had long advertised and promoted the February switch.
Plus, operating the analog signal can cost about $15,000 monthly — a big concern when the economic slowdown has brought declining advertising revenues at nearly all TV outlets.
Still, Capital Region station engineers interviewed Wednesday said that, unlike WMHT, their stations would wait until June to make the change. (No other area station has said it won't.)
"That's the decision we made in February, and we're sticking with it," said Fred Lass, chief engineer at WRGB Ch. 6, the CBS affiliate in Niskayuna.
None of the engineers expect significant problems when WMHT switches.
"It'll be interesting to see how many calls they get," said Sarge Cathrall, engineer at WXXA Ch. 23, the Fox affiliate in Albany.
WNYT, Ch. 13, dimmed the power of its broadcast last month, a move designed to extend the life of an aged analog transmitter.
The station estimated the power reduction would affect just a few hundred viewers, and the change did not provoke a strong reaction.
"I think I got one call," said Richard Klein, chief engineer at the NBC affiliate in Menands.
Chris Churchill can be reached at 454-5442 or by e-mail at cchurchill@timesunion.com.
Details of the switch
WMHT will end its analog broadcast signal for Ch. 17 on April 16. Here's what that means:
The station will not be available for those who receive their television "over-the-air" and do not have a digital-ready television or a converter box.
It does not affect cable or satellite subscribers.
The station will be the first major broadcaster to make the move, while most stations locally will wait until June 17 to end analog broadcasting.
The station's digital signal will be on Ch. 34.
