Vol. 38, No. 18

2-4-2009
By: Adam King

Jumbled transmission

The switch to digital TV broadcasting is on hold, which could bring WOSU some unexpected costs

For two years the Federal Communications Commission has made it known that Feb. 17, 2009, was the day analog television signals would go the way of the Edsel: Into history.

But this week, following the Senate’s lead, the US House of Representatives was poised to postpone the switch to digital TV until June 12 to give an estimated 6.5 million Americans more time to get ready.

A vote on the measure, which only needed a simple majority, was scheduled for Feb. 4 — after onCampus went to press. But it was expected to pass handily after an earlier 258-168 vote in the House on a similar bill just missed a required two-thirds majority.

For WOSU Public Media, which budgeted for a Feb. 17 switch, a delay would mean an extra $11,000 per month in utility costs to continue sending out an analog signal.

“I fear that in a time where our budget is challenged, we’re going to have to spend more money to have our analog transmission limp along for another few months,” said Tom Rieland, WOSU Public Media’s general manager. “We have other challenges too, and we didn’t need this one. You’re talking up to another $55,000, and that’s definitely not in our budget.”

Without an analog signal, viewers who don’t have a digital tuner in their television or a cable or satellite TV subscription would receive only a blank screen.

For the last year, WOSU has been promoting to those viewers — mostly low-income and the elderly — the need to get one of the $40-$80 converter boxes that will allow non-digital sets to receive and display a digital signal.

The government provided two free $40 coupons to each household but did not fund the program completely. Some 2.5 million people are now on a waiting list to receive the coupons — another reason for the postponement. The boxes, however, are available for purchase without the coupons.

In central Ohio, it is estimated between 5,000 and 10,000 viewers fall into the highest-need category for help in obtaining and installing converter boxes, and WOSU is doing everything it can to support their transition. The station partnered with LifeCare Alliance and the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging over the past year to reach the most at-risk viewers.

In November, 60 staff and volunteers from WOSU and its partners went into the community and installed 200 converter boxes in a single day. They plan a similar outreach event soon, using some of the 2,800 converter box coupons that have been donated to WOSU.

And on Jan. 6 WOSU was one of a limited number of stations in the country to secure FCC funds to help the community with the transition. The $196,500 contract, in addition to supporting the station’s current outreach efforts, will allow WOSU to staff a 9 a.m.-
9 p.m. transition phone helpline to talk people through the issues and about how to install the converter boxes.

“The FCC told us we’re ahead of anyone else who has already received a contract,” Rieland said. “We’re happy to receive the funding because we were extending ourselves considerably to help those most in need of making the transition.”

The helpline was supposed to begin Feb. 2 and continue a couple of weeks after the Feb. 17 changeover. Now that the transition has moved to June 12, Rieland said WOSU will have to delay the helpline until May, and that’s assuming Congress doesn’t postpone it again.

“People could get the sense that if the government moves the date once, they’ll move it again and they won’t have to do anything for a while,” Rieland said. “We’re still trying to build in people a sense of urgency.”

It is possible, Rieland said, that WOSU would apply to the FCC to stop its analog broadcast before June 12 in order to save money. Another concern is WOSU is not broadcasting its digital signal at full power and can’t until it removes its analog antenna from its Westerville transmission tower.

“Our community partners don’t mind the extension because there are a lot of people they’re still reaching out to,” Rieland said. “For those in need, it’s not a bad thing. From a station standpoint, it may cost us, but from a standpoint in helping those most in need, it’s a good thing they extend it.”

Rieland said the broadcast networks also want the digital extension because “Sweeps Month” was moved to March from February in anticipation of the changeover. With millions of people potentially unable to watch TV because of the converter box backlog, the networks could lose significant advertising revenue since “sweeps” viewership levels determine yearlong ad rates.

Industry issues aside, Rieland said digital TV broadcasting will enhance the viewing experience, and he can’t wait for it to finally fall into place.

 “We were in a low-income apartment complex for our install day and we heard ‘wow’ and ‘amazing’ as this little box turned their 20-year-old analog television sets seemingly into new televisions with more stations and a better signal,” Rieland said. “They were truly shocked and so grateful that WOSU and our social service partners provided this service. The transition has been a great experience for our staff in that regard. We’ve had lots of instant gratification for our work.”

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