DIGITAL TV

Austin's digital TV deadline day goes smoothly

Stations report few problems in the final shut-off deadline for analog TV

By Omar L. Gallaga
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, June 13, 2009

One of the more unusual things seen in Austin on Friday: employees at a TV station cheering a screen full of snow.

At 12:50 p.m., KXAN-TV cut off its analog broadcast signal, joining other stations around the country in the switch to digital transmissions. The federal government set Friday as the deadline for the switch after it was delayed from February, although some stations had already made the change.

In the end, turning off the analog feed at KXAN was a matter of a simple keystroke and a push of a mouse button in the master control room. About a half-dozen employees gathered in the cramped aisle, some taking photos.

It all made for several on-air segments with anchor Robert Hadlock during the station's noon news broadcast. "Fifteen years in the making, and this is the final day," he told viewers.

KXAN, which broadcasts NBC programming, was one of four major Austin stations shutting off analog broadcasting on Friday. KTBC, Austin's Fox affiliate, shut down its analog signal at 12:30 p.m. KVUE-TV, Austin's ABC station, had plans to go digital at 10:10 p.m. Friday, during its newscast. The FCC asked KVUE to be a "night light" station: For two more weeks, it will broadcast Spanish and English information in analog on how to switch to digital television, said Patti Smith, the station's general manager.

Austin's Univisi?n station, KAKW-TV, was expected to drop its analog signal around midnight.

KEYE-TV (CBS) made the switch in February, as did KLRU-TV (PBS) in April.

Guy Benson, Austin's DTV coordinator for the FCC, said the only problems reported on Friday were spotty signals from KTBC in parts of East Austin. "It depends on terrain and buildings," Benson said.

Benson added, "Some folks throughout the area might not be able to get that station for three weeks" when KTBC replaces its current transmitter with a more high-powered antenna.

Mark Rodman, general manager at KTBC, said his station received about 200 calls between about 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on a hot line set up to answer transition questions. "I'd characterize the pre-switch calls as being general inquiries," he said, " 'Do I need a box? What do I need to do?' " After the switch, he said, viewers called with more specific questions about antennas and converter boxes.

"The switch itself went flawlessly," Rodman said. "We were back up in a matter of seconds."

At KXAN, the station received only one phone call in the minutes that followed its 12:50 p.m. cutoff. Eric Lassberg , president and general manager of KXAN, said he felt confident about the station's efforts to gets its viewers transitioned to digital TV. "It's been millions and millions and millions of dollars of on-air time that has gone into making the public aware. I think people are pretty prepared," he said.

Benson said a steady stream of people were bringing in TVs, VCRs and converter boxes to the East Austin DeWitty Job Training and Employment Center for help. "People waited till the last minute to do this, but there are a lot of local resources," he said.

The DeWitty Center, at 2209 Rosewood Ave. , will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Monday to help people fill out converter coupon applications and set up their converter boxes. The FCC's digital TV Web site (http://dtv.gov ) also provides local information, including a list of contractors being paid by the government to provide in-home help.

Austin's fire department is also helping set up converter boxes in the homes of seniors (while also checking smoke detectors).

Rodman said that dropping the analog signal helps the station save money on energy and that the digital equipment is much more reliable and durable than the older equipment.

At the very least, the transition finally ended all the anticipation that had been building since the first analog shut-off day was delayed from February.

"We've been ready for months," Rodman said, "We're glad the day is finally here and it went so well."

ogallaga@statesman.com; 445-3672