FROM MAY 2002 KCOS "VIEWER" By Craig A. Brush President, General Manager, KCOS-TV
On May 1, 2003, just one year from now, KCOS is mandated
by the federal government to begin operation of a new digital television
broadcast operation. KCOS-DTV will operate on Channel 30 and its broadcast
signal will only be seen by homes that have either new digital television
sets capable of receiving terrestrial digital broadcasts or homes that
have installed digital "set top boxes" that can convert digital
signals.
The cost of converting to digital technology will be very
expensive. In order to acquire a new transmitter, antenna, master control,
and production equipment, the station will need to raise nearly $4million.
Fortunately, KCOS has already raised nearly $3 million
toward its conversion to digital technology. Nearly $1.5 million of that
comes from a grant from the Public Television Facilities Program, which
is part of the United States Department of Commerce. As a condition of
that grant, KCOS had to commit to providing matching funds totaling nearly
$500,000. Toward that end, this month KCOS will launch its first Capital
Campaign in the twenty-three year existence of the station.
The goal of this fundraising effort is to raise $1 million
dollars to be used to help purchase equipment necessary for the digital
technology and to establish a "Digital Future Fund" to help KCOS
meet the financial requirements of digital operation.
If you would like information on how you can help KCOS
meet its capital, and see your contribution matched by three dollars for
every dollar you contribute, please contact me directly at (915) 747-6500.
Should KCOS fail to convert to digital technology, ultimately
the station will lose its license to operate. Our long-term viability and
existence depends on the success of our Capital Campaign and the generosity
of the community we have proudly served for nearly a quarter of a decade.
What is digital television (DTV)?
The picture viewers currently receive is based on an analog
transmission system that is more than 50 years old. In December 1996 the
Federal Communications Commission approved the U.S. standard for a new
era of television — digital television. In a digital system, images
and sound are captured using the same digital code found in computers —
ones and zeroes.
The digital revolution 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. This is due primarily
to the three main benefits of the digital system: high definition television,
multicasting in standard definition television and data transmission.
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What is 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 with a 16 by 9 width to height
ratio compared to today's 4 by 3, or basically square format. And because
HDTV 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.
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What is multicasting?
When not transmitting in HDTV, 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 quality, it will offer a higher quality picture
than we have today.
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What is enhanced digital television?
Digital broadcasting will offer an entirely new form of
programming: enhanced digital television — the fusion of video, audio,
images and text. For the first time, producers will be able to combine
the story-telling power of video and film with the enormous data capacity
of a digital television signal. Viewers will be able to simultaneously
watch an enhanced TV production and, in the background, receive hundreds
of megabytes of additional video, audio, text and images related to the
program. Imagine your favorite PBS documentary accompanied by a companion
CD-ROM, but with the content stored directly on your computer or in the
memory of your digital set-top box.
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Will consumers be able to watch digital
television on their existing sets?
Only if they obtain a digital converter box. DTV information
is encoded in a different way from the analog television signal and therefore
will require a different kind of receiver. Manufacturers are developing
converter boxes that will allow viewers to receive programs broadcast on
DTV channels on their analog TV sets. However, in order to experience the
full benefits of digital television, including HDTV, viewers will need
new digital television sets.
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When will I be able to receive DTV?
It depends on where you live. Some limited DTV service
in the largest markets was scheduled to begin in late 1998. PBS will begin
distributing to member stations its first national HDTV and enhanced digital
programming began in November of 1998 during PBS Digital Week. (Several
PBS stations representing a variety of market sizes began to offer a digital
signal this in November.) However, public and commercial broadcasters in
most markets intend to begin service between 1999-2001. Consumers will
not be able to receive this initial DTV programming without a new set-top
box, and will only be able to take full advantage of the enhanced digital
video and audio quality and ancillary services when they purchase a new
DTV-capable receiver.
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Where can I see DTV?
DTV receiver demonstrations (and some early sales of new
sets) already have begun in some retail stores in various parts of the
country.
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DTV AND HDTV