Digital Television: Can You Picture It?
WVPT became the first PBS station in a Virginia Designated Market to go digital with a "switch-throwing" celebration live, on-air Thursday, October 18, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. The Valley's first digital signal from a local station -- WVPT-DT 11 serves Rockingham, Augusta, and Rockbridge Counties. One year later WVPY-DT 21 premiered. Both provide the area with astounding video and audio for a theater-like viewing experience. And now, WVPT provides three digital channels!
The time is here! You can tune to WVPT-DT on a digital television set, your current analog television set modified by a set-top converter box, and your home computer!
Now imagine a time in the future when all of these programming choices will come with an interactive stream of data--classroom materials, internet home pages, digital audio services, news tickers--and you are beginning to grasp the full impact of digital television. Your TV set becomes a tool for active learning and entertainment!
DTV's Benefits
The main benefits of this broadcast revolution are:
HDTV
The HDTV picture is a truer representation of reality with more than twice the resolution and clarity of the analog picture. HDTV provides stunning detail in close-up and panoramic scenes. Fine detail is possible because an HDTV signal takes up the majority of the six MHz bandwidth allotted. Because the audio is also broadcast over nearly the entire six MHz bandwidth, viewers enjoy CD-quality "surround sound." In addition, the DTV signal doesn't degrade over distance. Reception is as clear for viewers on the fringe of the WVPT viewing area as for those living near a transmitter. In short, the total viewing experience is richer and more like a true home theater experience with HDTV.
Multicasting
In addition to improved picture and sound quality, multicasting opens an entirely new form of programming-enhanced digital television--the fusion of video, audio, images and text. Since DTV is compressed, WVPT is able to broadcast four signals simultaneously in the same bandwidth required for one analog signal.
Datacasting
In HDTV and Standard Definition Television (SDTV), data can also be broadcast using leftover bandwidth, making Internet-type information available through the digital television set or the home computer. 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 stored directly on the computer or in the memory of the digital set-top box. While watching the THREE TENORS IN CONCERT, the viewer could download the musical scores of the pieces performed or receive biographical information on each of the singers. During telecourses, the viewer could download the course syllabus and homework assignments. The possibilities go on and on.
Questions
Where Can I Find More Information?
Here are some helpful websites:
http://www.ce.org/shared_files/hdtv/DTVTipSheet.pdf
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html
http://antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html
Can I Watch DTV on My TV?
Since DTV information is encoded in a different way from the analog television signal, a new receiver capable of decoding the new signal is required. Manufacturers have developed converter boxes that 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, viewers will need new digital television sets.
The DTV television set's shape will be somewhat different. Since DTV will be broadcast in 16:9 aspect ratio, the screen will look more like a rectangular movie screen than the basically square format of the analog 4:3 aspect ratio television screen.
When Will I be Able to Receive DTV?
It depends on where you live. WVPT currently airs high definition and wide screen programming on antenna channels DT 11-1, 11-2 and 11-3 in the southern Shenandoah Valley and DT 21-1, 21-2 and 21-3 in the northern Shenandoah Valley and northeastern West Virginia. Consumers cannot receive DTV broadcasts without a set-top converter box and will only be able to take full advantage of DTV video and audio quality and ancillary services with a new DTV TV set.
How Much Does a DTV Set Cost?
Right now, new digital TV sets cost around $1000 up. But, as with all new technical equipment, the prices will come down over time. Viewers can buy a converter box, which will deliver basic DTV services, between $50 and $250.
How Will WVPT Pay for the Transition to DTV?
Whether public television gets there from here depends on Congress, state government, foundations, and the private sector. The new cameras, equipment, and towers needed for digital broadcasting will cost WVPT more than $13 million. But, with the support from both the public and private sectors, WVPT will continue to achieve great things in the digital world.
What Does DTV Offer Me?
In a word? Opportunity. Opportunity to tune in to a children's program, work force literacy telecast, a public affairs special or a telecourse series all broadcast at the same time on WVPT. Opportunity to receive related digital material in the form of printed materials, computer software or internet-like web pages. Opportunity to experience television broadcasts that are more like real life with higher-quality picture and sound. Opportunity to transform "the tube" into an educational, informative, entertaining and culturally enriching tool.
I Understand I Can Use a Set-top Converter Box for My Television. But, Will My Antenna and Satellite Dish Be Obsolete?
Antennas
To receive all of the digital television signals available in your area, you will need to purchase a good-quality UHF/VHF antenna. Also, as you prepare for the digital transition, you should consider a good-quality preamp and an antenna rotor. Indoor antennas will receive DTV signals also; however, as with analog signals, outdoor antennas will be more effective.
Satellite Dishes
Satellite companies were the first to market digital products capable of standard-definition clarity and resolution. Some satellite systems have already committed to providing DTV and HDTV signals. Contact your satellite television provider to find out which networks and stations it will include in its service. Ask them to include WVPT!
Selecting a Digital Television
Once you have decided to buy a new digital television, there are some things to consider.
- Many of the TV sets produced during the conversion period from analog to digital broadcasting can receive and display both signals. They come in a variety of sizes to fit in almost any space. All you need is a power source and an antenna (or cable) hookup!
- High-end or high definition digital televisions offer the sharpest picture and clearest sound. These will also support datacasting features. These sets give you motion-picture quality experiences on a smaller screen.
- The quality of your TV set's picture depends upon the screen's resolution. A higher resolution means a higher quality visual experience. Your DTV set's picture is made up of pixels and lines.
- Pixels are picture elements displayed horizontally across the screen.
- Lines are the rows of pixels displayed vertically across the screen.
- A resolution of 1,920 pixels by 1,080 lines will give you a better picture than 640 pixels by 480 lines. The higher the numbers, the clearer the picture!
In the digital age, one thing remains the same: only public broadcasting is committed to using the expanded digital spectrum to bring out the best that Americans aspire to be, not to sell products! Our mission of education, culture, and citizenship is essential to the life of a great nation.
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