TV Q&A with Rob Owen

Friday, August 22, 2008

This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about digital TV, BBC America in HD and Comcast withholding HD channels. As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.

-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

Q: What exactly is going to happen next February when all broadcasting becomes digital? Right now some networks are broadcasting in analog and also in HDTV. After the switch will they have separate digital and HDTV broadcasts or a single HDTV broadcast? If they will be broadcasting in both digital and HDTV, is there some point when they will be required to switch to only HDTV?

-- Bob, 44, Plum

Rob: Broadcast networks only send programming to stations via satellite. It's the stations themselves that actually broadcast over the air.

All local full-power stations, except WPCW, are broadcasting in digital and analog. After Feb. 9, 2009, they will broadcast only in digital and their analog signals will be shut off. (WPCW will begin broadcasting in digital at that time). Some stations' programs are currently in HD and more will be HD as time goes on, but some shows, especially older reruns, will not be shown in HD.

The government requires a digital signal but pretty much all the stations will send HD as their primary signal and they'll also be able to broadcast a few additional subchannels, which several stations are already doing. It's possible that stations may use these subchannels to send a non-HD, standard definition, digital signal but that seems like it would be a waste.

Anyone without a HDTV set can pick up a station's signal if they are connected to cable/satellite or by purchasing a digital-to-analog over-the-air converter box.

For more on DTV, read Sunday's story on digital conversion.

Q: Last fall, BBC America talked up switching to HD in 2008. I e-mailed them a month or so ago and asked how the switch was coming along. They thanked me for my interest said they were working on it. Nothing more. Do you have any better information? I'm looking forward to "Top Gear" in HD.

-- John, 41, North Huntingdon

Rob: BBC America still has plans to launch a HD channel, but no announcements have been made and the timetable is nebulous: Maybe late this year or early next. Even then, there's no way of knowing which cable/satellite providers will be the first to sign on.

Q: Do you know if any of the numerous NBC-owned networks devoted to Olympic coverage will replay the Opening Ceremonies in its entirety? My boyfriend's mother missed the ceremony since she was at the Steelers exhibition game last Friday and I'd like to make a good impression upon her and tape the program for her viewing pleasure.

-- Susan, 49, Swissvale

Rob: I'm not aware of any plans to re-broadcast the opening ceremonies, but we had a big article about the Olympics online. I didn't have a lot of luck finding clips at NBCOlympics.com, but there are a ton of clips at YouTube.com. Just type in "Olympic opening ceremonies 2008" and you'll hit the jackpot. In addition, NBC is selling a two-volume DVD of the opening ceremonies ($29.99) at NBCOlympics.com.

Q: Before KDKA hired Dennis Bowman as its morning and afternoon meteorologist, I was going to write this e-mail and I think it's still relevant. Why, when meteorologists' credentials are so important, does KDKA bring in Jon Burnett to do weather? He's not a meteorologist. I have nothing against him. He seems like a pleasant guy, but I could never understand why Dennis Bowman substituted for him. When Jeff V. is off, there he is. He does an OK job, but am I mistaken? Does he have his credentials in meteorology? I just saw another meteorologist substituting for him. That credentialing doesn't matter to me, but I just don't know what kind of deal he has with KDKA that they bring in a real certified meteorologist to substitute for him! What gives?

-- Sue, 58, Monroeville

Rob: I've never understood the concern some people have with TV weather but it's clearly an itch viewers love to scratch, which explains why local stations lead with weather as often as they do. They're feeding that habit.

Burnett has no degree in meteorology and no seals from the American Meteorological Society or the National Weather Association but it's only been in the past 10 or 15 years that having a degreed meteorologist became a concern for many stations. Burnett has been presenting weather forecasts since 1977, and although I understand the value of a meteorologist with a degree (for practical and promotional reasons), as long as there's a National Weather Service providing forecasts for someone to read, does the background of the presenter really matter all that much? I'm sure a cogent argument can be made that it does, but you can also argue that the most studied forecaster with no on-camera talent wouldn't be of much use to viewers either.

Perhaps it's worth noting that the weathermen on two of the national morning shows -- Al Roker on NBC's "Today" and Davd Price on CBS's "The Early Show" -- have no degrees in meteorology. Roker, per his bio at AlRoker.com, studied communications in college and Price has an undergrad degree in industrial/labor relations and a master's in organizational psychology.

As to why Bowman, who has a certificate in broadcast meteorology from Mississippi State and AMS and NWA seals, was subbing for Burnett, it's simple: Bowman was a freelancer (until recently) and Burnett's a full-time employee who's been at the station offering forecasts since 1990 and hosting programs since 1982. Would you want to be ousted from your job just because someone with more specific credentials -- that were not required when you started -- comes along?

Q: Why are the Steelers preseason games not shown in HD? This is about the only sports broadcast that is not shown in HD. Once you see a sporting event that way, it's not too easy watching it in analog. KDKA has the ability to pass through HD, they have done it before, why not now. Is it that money thing again?

-- Don, 70, Freedom

Rob: Cost is a factor, explained KDKA general manager Chris Pike, but trucks that can broadcast in HD aren't always available either.

"We have heard from other viewers concerning this issue and are working to provide HD service for preseason games in future seasons," Pike said.

Q: I probably know the answer to this question, but I'm going to ask anyway. During KDKA's programming of the football game on Thursdays, there is also other programming going on from CBS that is not aired until 1 a.m. Why doesn't KDKA make an agreement with their sister channel CW to view the programs at their regular times so we don't have to wait until early in the morning to watch. (Example: "Big Brother 10," which is a live show on Thursdays, features eviction and the head of household vote). KDKA uses CW for the news at 10 p.m., so they can't say it's impossible. Not everyone is a football fan.

-- Debbie, Shaler

Rob: "We are committed to supporting and growing both the CBS television network and the CW network in the Pittsburgh market," Pike said. "While the CBS network has a longer history and a larger following, there are viewers who are extremely passionate about both networks' programs. We apologize for the disruption and appreciate the loyal viewership. I can assure you that CW's 'America's Next Top Model' and 'Gossip Girl' viewers would react with the same passion as CBS's 'Big Brother' viewers."

Q: I have recently ordered Verizon FiOS TV but notice that they do not carry FSN-P HD. Do you know if they will broadcast the Penguins or Pirates HD games on another channel (similar to what Comcast does with broadcasting the game on 226 MOJO)?

-- Mark, 35, Ohio Township

Rob: They don't do that at FiOS TV. And as we noted a few weeks ago, Verizon has no timetable for when it might add FSN-P HD.

Q: Could you please find out for all of the aggravated Comcast HDTV viewers in the North Hills, why they postponed the HDTV channel additons that we were originally supposed to receive on July 15th? And when we will get them. We are furious! They sent a message to the cable boxes last week. The message included a bad 1-800 phone number to call. I phoned the local office and they said it is due to audio problems. What is really going on?

-- John, 35, Ross

Rob: The date for the Ross and Castle Shannon changes was never in July. It was always in August. We reported Saturday on the reasons for the delay.

Q: Just wanted to thank you Rob for getting the info from Comcast on why the upgrade in the North Hills was delayed yet again. Comcast's answer was, however, the biggest bunch of crap I have ever heard. What the hell does the amount of boxes that they distribute have to do with their station upgrade? Nothing.

Here is a quote from someone in the AVS forum: "It looks like she's saying they were running out of boxes due to overwhelming demand for their upgraded service and new lower-priced package. So we in the North Hills aren't getting these upgrades because they don't want to run out of cable boxes? That might be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! Here's an idea: Make the new customers wait for their box and give those of us who have been waiting forever for these channels what we want and have been paying a HIGHER price for!!!"

-- Bryan, 36, North Hills

Rob: Alas, corporations are always more interested in acquiring new business than they are in satisfying existing customers. It's sad but true.

Q: Are we talking days, months, or years on the availability of receiving the upgrade from Comcast in the Ross area?

-- Jeff, 55, Pittsburgh

Rob: The best I could get out of Comcast was that the delay could be as much as a few months. But they really seem to have no concrete timetable.

First published on August 22, 2008 at 12:00 am