IF YOU CURRENTLY RELY ON OVER-THE-AIR SIGNALS ON AN ANALOG TELEVISION SET AND AN ANTENNA OR “RABBIT EARS,” AND DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR SIGNAL VIA A CABLE, SATELLITE OR TELEPHONE TELEVISION SERVICE PROVIDER OR DO NOT HAVE A TELEVISION WITH A BUILT-IN DIGITAL TUNER OR HAVE A SPECIAL DIGITAL TELEVISION SET-TOP CONVERTER BOX, YOUR TELEVISION WILL NOT WORK AFTER FEBRUARY 17, 2009.

   In little over a year – February 17, 2009, to be exact – television as we know it will change forever. On that date, under a mandate by the United States Congress, all television stations nationwide, including Smoky Hills Public Television, must cease broadcasting using analog format and begin broadcasting exclusively in a digital format.
   Analog television broadcasting is the traditional method of transmitting television signals. Analog has been the standard broadcasting technology since the inception of television more than 50 years ago.
   Analog is not as efficient as digital television – it uses up much more of the valuable spectrum than digital, and television stations can transmit only one channel of programming with an analog signal versus up to four programs with a digital signal in the same amount of spectrum. Analog is also susceptible to interference and “snow” that make a picture less
clear.

DIGITAL TELEVISION (DTV)
   Digital television, also know as DTV, is an innovative new type of broadcasting technology. With a digital system, images and sound are captured and transmitted using the same binary code found in computers.
   Digital television is a delivery method, at both a television station’s transmitter and studio plant, and in the consumer’s television sets. It can be used for a variety of services, including multi-casting several standard definition signals, high definition television, data streams, or a combination of these.
   Congress mandated the conversion to digital television for two important reasons.
First, DTV will provide higher-quality picture and sound and more programming options for consumers. Second, ceasing analog broadcasting will free up a wide range of frequencies
which then can be used for public safety such as police, fire and emergency rescue communications, as well as other commercial uses.
   DTV will not only dramatically improve the quality of the television picture, but also make possible the over-the-air delivery of several simultaneous services to viewers.

HIGH DEFINITION TELEVISION (HDTV)
   Digital television will allow stations to broadcast programs in much higher resolution or clarity than standard analog television. This is called high definition television or HDTV.
Viewers at home will be able to receive high-quality, crystal-clear pictures. These visually stunning pictures, with more than twice the resolution and clarity of standard television, will be displayed in a wide screen format (16 units wide by nine units high) compared to today’s narrower format (four units wide by three high). And because high definition television is digital, audiences will have the benefit of six-channel, CD-quality “surround sound.” In other words, viewers will be able to enjoy a true home theater experience.
  When high definition programming is transmitted by a standard definition transmitter, or to
a standard definition television set, is may be wider, but has a black bar above and below the picture. It does not have the stunning quality of image that true high definition programs have. This is called “letter box.”

MULTICASTING
   When not transmitting in high definition, broadcasters will be able to transmit four or more channels of standard definition television (SDTV) programming simultaneously. This is called multicasting. Although SDTV will not match HDTV in picture quality, it will offer a higher
quality picture than we have today. Standard definition programming seen on a high-definition
wide-screen set, can be stretched horizontally to fill the screen, or displayed in the proper aspect-ratio (four units high by three wide) with gray bars on the right and left sides of the picture

SMOKY HILLS PUBLIC TELEVISION DIGITAL PROGRAM SERVICES
   While Smoky Hills Public Television will continue to broadcast its current analog program channel until February 17, 2009, many Smoky Hills Public Television viewers already have digital television capacity (a digital television set) and already are enjoying the advantages of the new technology – dramatically sharper images and sound, and multiple channels of public television programming. That is because, early on, Smoky Hills Public Television made a commitment to continue providing its viewers with unequaled television service.
   Smoky Hills Public Television already is transmitting in a digital format, having completed all parts of its robust technical transmission plan in June, 2007. The station currently
broadcasts six hours (6:00 p.m. – midnight Central Time, television’s prime time) of spectacular high definition, wide screen programming every evening.
   During the remainder of its broadcast day (6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.), Smoky Hills Public Television multicasts -- splits its broadcast signal into four separate standard definition
signals – four television stations in one! Smoky Hills’ multicasting currently features:

DT 1 – Smoky Hills Public Television regular programming
DT 2 – “Create” Channel (lifestyle and how-to programming)
DT 3 – PBSX (PBS programming)
DT 4 – PBS’ “World” Channel (documentary, public affairs and news programming)

SMOKY HILLS PUBLIC TELEVISION DIGITAL TELEVISION CONVERSION PLAN
   Smoky Hills started converting its transmission plant to digital in 2001. Funds were
provided by the Kansas Legislature through the Kansas Public Broadcasting Council, and from grants from the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program in the National Telecommunications and Information Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. This provided for the construction of KOOD-DT (Channel 16) licensed to Hays, KSWK-DT (Channel 8), licensed to Lakin, and the conversion of KDCK-TV (analog) to KDCK-DT (digital) in Dodge City. The
“hot-switch” of KDCK was necessary because the analog and digital transmitters were
licensed on the same frequency, Channel 21. These three stations started digital operation in 2003.
    Smoky Hills applied to the Federal Communications Commission to assign a new digital channel to Colby, Kansas, as a part of its plan to replace five aging analog translators
(low-power repeaters) in northwest Kansas with a fourth full-power digital station. Funding was obtained from the Rural Utilities Service, Public Television Program, and the Kansas Public Broadcasting Council. KWKS-DT (Channel 19) became the fourth Smoky Hills Public Television station when it started transmitting programming in June of 2007.
   To deliver programming to these four transmitters, Smoky Hills has converted its master control facility to digital technology, capable of switching, recording and playing both analog and digital television signals. The station has also converted its satellite receivers and built hundred of miles of fiber-optic cables connecting its facilities in Bunker Hill, Dodge City, Lakin and Brewster.
   The final phase will involve producing Kansas programming in high definition. Location (shoulder-mounted) cameras and editing equipment was obtained in 2007-08 with residual funds from the Northwest Kansas Transmission Project. Funding to complete studio and remote-unit conversion is being requested in 2008 from both the Kansas Legislature and the PTFP/NTIA programs.
   All told, Smoky Hills Public Television will spend approximately eight million dollars to convert all of its operations to digital and high definition television.

CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SMOKY HILLS PUBLIC TELEVISON
   While many Smoky Hills Public Television viewers already are enjoying the remarkable
benefits of digital television, other viewers risk losing all television reception, including Smoky Hills, unless they take the easy steps necessary to receive a digital signal.
If you subscribe to a cable or satellite service, your access to broadcast channels should not change. Smoky Hills Public Television’s cable partners do all the work converting the signal for their customers. Both DirecTV and Dish Network will continue to carry Smoky Hills’ analog signal through February 17, 2009, and are in the conversion process for digital television
from local stations.
  However, if you currently rely on over-the-air television signals through antennas on older television sets that are equipped only with analog tuners, and do not subscribe to cable, satellite or a telephone company television service provider, you will need to take action to continue to receive Smoky Hills Public Television and any television service.
   You must do one of the following:

      · purchase a low-cost digital converter box to use with your existing analog        television set;
     · purchase a digital television that can receive DTV signals; or
     · subscribe to cable, satellite or telephone company-provided television        service.

CONVERTER BOX COUPONS
   The DTV converter box, sometimes called a set-top box, is an easy-to-install, electronic device that makes the new digital signal viewable on an older analog television set. DTV converter boxes will be available for purchase at electronics retailers early this year, and are expected to cost between $50 and $70.
   To help consumers cover the cost of the converter box, the federal government will offer up
to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each per household, beginning in early 2008. Each coupon may be used toward the purchase of a single DTV converter box. The coupon program will be administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
   Many of the nation’s largest consumer electronics retailers, including Best Buy, Circuit City,
K-Mart, RadioShack, Sam’s Club, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart, have been approved to sell the DTV converter boxes and participate in the coupon program. The NTIA is encouraging stores to begin carrying the converter boxes by mid-February.
   Between now and March 31, 2009, all households in the U.S. will be eligible to request up to two coupons to be used toward the purchase of up to two digital-to-analog converter boxes. The coupons cannot be combined to purchase a single converter box, nor can they be used toward the purchase of other products.
   To apply for the converter box coupons, go to www.dtv2009.gov.
   You will still need an over-the-air antenna in addition to the converter box to receive a
digital signal on your analog television set. Your current antenna should work the same as before the conversion.

DIGITAL TELEVISION SET(S)
   Another option you may choose is to upgrade to a new digital television, a set with a
built-in digital (ATSC) tuner. As with older sets, you will need an over-the-air antenna that provides quality reception of over-the-air analog television signals to access free digital broadcast programming from Smoky Hills and other local stations.
   Before deciding to purchase a new digital television, you should make sure your current television set doesn’t already have a built-in digital tuner. Most sets sold in the last few years that are larger than 27 inches will likely have a digital (ATSC) tuner.
   To check whether your television set can receive over-the-air digital broadcast signals, take
a look at your owner’s manual or look on the set for an indication that it has a built-in ATSC tuner. You can also go to the manufacturer’s Web site and check the capabilities of the set
by manufacturer model number.

CABLE, SATELLITE OR TELEPHONE COMPANY DIGITAL TELEVISION SERVICE
   All cable, satellite or telephone company television services will allow you to receive digital television signals on your analog television set. No additional equipment is required. Be sure
to check that the pay service you choose carries Smoky Hills Public Television.
   These companies set their own rates for the services they supply to their customers. Cable companies must provide analog stations which can be received in their service area, on the lowest tier of service. Satellite providers charge an extra fee to provide the ‘local-to-local’ stations. Smoky Hills receives no revenue from the fees charged by cable and satellite companies. Indeed, we must spend money to deliver our signal to some of these companies.
   Remember, if you currently rely on over-the-air television signals on an analog television set and an antenna, and do not receive your signal via a cable, satellite or telephone television service provider or do not have a television with a built-in digital tuner or have a special digital television set-top converter box, your television will not work after February 17, 2009.

For more information on the digital transition, visit:

DTV 2009
FCC: Digital Television Is Coming
DTV Answers
NTIA: Digital TV Transition and Public Safety
HDTV Prime

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