ReesR
08-21-2002, 02:41 PM
Hi HD'ers:
Just got off the phone with Tom Dvorak, program manager of 10/36. After going through all the normal stuff he shared that there will be "some" HD programming this fall. The reason there is not more programming aired is technical. They do not currently have the ability to air "LOCAL" programming due to a lack of equipment that has already been ordered but not delivered.
He indicated that their web site will be updated in the next few days with the new HD programming. If I understood him correctly, there will be two PBS HD programs starting next week. Thirteen programs airing one at week but repeated Sunday through Saturday.
One will be a program called "Tracks Ahead" will air at 4:00pm. The other will be "Smart Travels" which will air at 6:30pm. They are both half hour programs.
Tom also shared that there will be 3 programs coming from PBS in High Def in Sept and one in October. He said that the web site will give all this information and will be updated in about 3 days. We will see. It is my intent that if I do not see it in that time I will give a call to find out when it will be there.
I could tell he was actually very frustrated too. He shared with me that he has 20 hours of programming some of which has been there for 2 years and he has had to renew the "rights to air" ever since just because he has no technical ability to air them.
He has a meeting with their technical personnel next week to discuss this whole issue of High Definition. Maybe he can light a fire with them. Right now 10 can only air high definition IF it comes directly from PBS. However, even though PBS has programming, ch10 has no way of currently switching to it in their master control. This is part of the main problem he said. He also verified that Outdoor Wisconsin has been done in HD. But again, because of the same technical problem they can not air "LOCAL" HD programming.
Tom shared with me that he gets one or two calls every week on this subject. He WANTS High Definition to expand. But he also said that there is a distinct lack of HD programming available to PBS stations like Ch 10. He noted that he has access to the same programming that the Madison PBS station has access to.
I asked him what is he going to do when 36 goes High Def. His response was the multicasting programming on 10 might be moved to 36 which would allow true Hi Def to air on 10. Or visa-versa.
It is my intent to call the chief engineer of Ch 10/36 and see if I can get a better understanding of what the technical issues are. My background, as some of you know, is 20 years of broadcasting experience in engineering. I am now retired from broadcasting. Hopefully, I can gleen some good information and share it with you.
End of update
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Rees Roberts
Racine, WI
HDTV Receiver: Sony KD-34XBR2
Bi-directional Yagi Antenna at 30 feet
Just got off the phone with Tom Dvorak, program manager of 10/36. After going through all the normal stuff he shared that there will be "some" HD programming this fall. The reason there is not more programming aired is technical. They do not currently have the ability to air "LOCAL" programming due to a lack of equipment that has already been ordered but not delivered.
He indicated that their web site will be updated in the next few days with the new HD programming. If I understood him correctly, there will be two PBS HD programs starting next week. Thirteen programs airing one at week but repeated Sunday through Saturday.
One will be a program called "Tracks Ahead" will air at 4:00pm. The other will be "Smart Travels" which will air at 6:30pm. They are both half hour programs.
Tom also shared that there will be 3 programs coming from PBS in High Def in Sept and one in October. He said that the web site will give all this information and will be updated in about 3 days. We will see. It is my intent that if I do not see it in that time I will give a call to find out when it will be there.
I could tell he was actually very frustrated too. He shared with me that he has 20 hours of programming some of which has been there for 2 years and he has had to renew the "rights to air" ever since just because he has no technical ability to air them.
He has a meeting with their technical personnel next week to discuss this whole issue of High Definition. Maybe he can light a fire with them. Right now 10 can only air high definition IF it comes directly from PBS. However, even though PBS has programming, ch10 has no way of currently switching to it in their master control. This is part of the main problem he said. He also verified that Outdoor Wisconsin has been done in HD. But again, because of the same technical problem they can not air "LOCAL" HD programming.
Tom shared with me that he gets one or two calls every week on this subject. He WANTS High Definition to expand. But he also said that there is a distinct lack of HD programming available to PBS stations like Ch 10. He noted that he has access to the same programming that the Madison PBS station has access to.
I asked him what is he going to do when 36 goes High Def. His response was the multicasting programming on 10 might be moved to 36 which would allow true Hi Def to air on 10. Or visa-versa.
It is my intent to call the chief engineer of Ch 10/36 and see if I can get a better understanding of what the technical issues are. My background, as some of you know, is 20 years of broadcasting experience in engineering. I am now retired from broadcasting. Hopefully, I can gleen some good information and share it with you.
End of update
=============
------------------
Rees Roberts
Racine, WI
HDTV Receiver: Sony KD-34XBR2
Bi-directional Yagi Antenna at 30 feet