The low-down on high-definition
By Mark Bailey on Feb. 06, 2008
By Tasha Kates
The Charlottesville Daily Progress
For some Super Bowl fans, the picture on their television tonight was much clearer compared with the ones flickering on their neighbors’ analog sets.
In the Charlottesville area, high-definition (HD) television owners who subscribe to Comcast Corp.‘s digital cable services can watch WAHU Fox27’s HD signal on channel 709.
Want to avoid the cost of a cable subscription and equipment? Those with HDTVs with built-in tuners might be able to use an over-air antenna to pull in a high-definition signal from Richmond’s Fox affiliate, WRLH-35.
In the last five years, HD and digital television offerings in the region have blossomed through local television stations, cable companies and satellite services.
Among the options:
—Some 20 HD channels through Comcast;
—dozens of HD channels through satellite TV providers;
—new high-definition signals over the air from local TV stations; and
—HD stations over air using antennas that pick up signals from Harrisonburg to Richmond.
White Hall resident Sam Strong and others have taken note.
“I think that we HD enthusiasts are probably a tough crowd, because if you give us one broadcast in HD, we want them all,“ Strong said. “But I do see that day coming in the not-too-distant future. And heck, we want them all because it really changes your viewing experience. There really is no comparison.“
Why the enthusiasm?
It would be hard for HD television owners like Landon Breidenstein to switch back to analog television. The HD enthusiast subscribes to Comcast, but can pick up local digital stations using an antenna if he wants.
“I don’t watch any other channels now except HD,“ Breidenstein said. “The picture quality is the difference between a VHS and a DVD.“
Analog signals picked up over rabbit-ear antennas will stop being broadcast on Feb. 17, 2009, throughout the United States. Those who want to watch TV after that date need to buy a television with a digital tuner, buy a converter box for their existing analog television or subscribe to cable or satellite television services.
The converter boxes, which are not yet available, are expected to cost $50 to $70. People who need a box or boxes can apply for up to two $40 coupons from the federal government to offset the cost. To apply, visit http://www.dtv2009.gov.
All new televisions sold across the nation come equipped with digital tuners, which allow their owners to pick up local digital television signals over an antenna. These standard-definition, or SD, digital signals are clearer than their analog counterparts. But HD is another step up from SD, Breidenstein said. The clear, crisp picture quality has changed how and what the Albemarle County resident watches on television.
“I probably wouldn’t have watched ‘Heroes,‘ but it came in HD at the time,“ Breidenstein said. “I got hooked.“
Breidenstein bought his HDTV once Comcast started offering HD channels about a year ago. The company recently increased the number of HD channels it offers.
High-definition offerings have increased across the nation within the last several years. According to the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, 30 million more households could watch HD programming between December 2003 and last March. As of March, 100 million American households with television had access to HD programming through at least one cable company.
HD in Charlottesville
WVIR NBC29 has been transmitting HD signals for more than four years, said Harold Wright, the station’s general manager. He said the station has spent $2.5 million for new transmitters, towers and equipment, and is planning to spend another $1 million.
The station’s HD offering can be found at 29.1 on a digital tuner. The HD station can be viewed with standard-definition televisions, but it will not have the same quality as if viewed with an HD television. NBC also broadcasts its 24/7 weather channel at 29.2 and CW29 at 29.3.
The digital format allows stations to divide up a signal and use it to transmit several digital channels at once.
Charlottesville’s Newsplex, which includes CBS19, ABC16 and WAHU Fox27, transmits in both analog and standard definition over the air. Viewers can find the SD channels on 19.1 for CBS, 16.1 for ABC, 27.1 for Fox and 27.2 for MyC’ville. In addition to its Fox station, the Newsplex broadcasts CBS19 and ABC16 on a high-definition signal through Comcast on channels 706 and 703, respectively.
Jeremy Settle, news director for the Gray Television-owned stations, said the station group could get only one companion digital channel. Settle said the offerings were based on the license type, and only the Fox station qualified.
The Newsplex decided to use its lone digital channel to host its standard-definition offerings over the air. Although the Newsplex is lobbying the FCC for another channel, Settle said the group might not be in over-the-air HD this year.
Charlottesville’s PBS station, WHTJ, also has HD broadcasts available on channel 220 through Comcast. But D.J. Crotteau, the station manager, said people often get better reception directly over the air on digital channels 41.1, 41.2 and 41.3.
“We get calls and e-mails from people all over the place that we did not know we were reaching,“ Crotteau said.
Many Charlottesville residents also can watch WVPT, Harrisonburg’s PBS station, on 51.1 and 51.3; the HD signal is on 51.2. The station converted to digital around 2002, making it one of the earliest stations in the country to attempt the switch, said David Mullins, president and general manager of the station.
Comcast offers up to 20 HD channels through its service packages. Spokeswoman Jaye Linnen said the company plans to add more On Demand shows, including some in HD.
DirectTV and the Dish Network each offer a wide variety of HD channels and plan more.
Dreaming in high def
Many HDTV owners are big sports fans. Albemarle County resident Josh Crockett enjoys turning on his 32-inch television to watch the HD sports offerings through Comcast.
“The difference in hockey is incredible,“ Crockett said. “It’s definitely clearer.“
Crockett said he could watch most of the college football and basketball he wants, although he said he would like to watch the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network too.
HD lovers like Crockett keep a close eye on the local HD offerings and often post their findings on AVSForum.com, a site for technology lovers that has a thread dedicated to HD in Harrisonburg and Charlottesville.
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