Frequently Asked Questions About Digital Television |
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| 1. |
What does WMFE's conversion to digital technology
mean to the typical Central Floridian? |
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In a word: opportunity.
Just as the Orlando Museum of Art or the Charles
Hosmer Morse Museum in Winter Park cannot display
all of their collections at one time, WMFE-TV
Channel 24 has many more hours of educational
programming and services than it has airtime.
DTV enables WMFE to share more of its wealth of
educational and cultural resources with every
Central Floridian than ever before.
It means that before bedtime, a
five-year-old child can tune to Clifford on
WMFE-ED and learn numbers in the company of
his parents or care giver.
It means that you have unique access
to municipal, school board and county government
meetings, agendas and workshops from your own
home.
And, it means that remarkably visual
public television programming finally has a
technology which allows all viewers to witness
compelling and stimulating video. Just imagine
the high definition video resolution of TV pictures
from such current WMFE programs as The
Metropolitan Opera, Live from Lincoln Center,
Great Performances, Nova, Mystery or
Masterpiece Theatre.
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| 2. |
What are the benefits? |
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The picture
you and other Central Florida viewers currently
receive is based on an analog transmission system
that is 50 years old. In December 1996 the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) 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 zeros.
The digital revolution not only dramatically
improves the quality of the television picture,
but also makes possible the over-the-air delivery
of several simultaneous services to you and other
viewers. |
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| 3. |
What is high definition television? |
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Digital television allows stations
-- like WMFE -- to telecast programs in much higher
resolution or clarity than standard analog television.
This is called high definition television or HDTV.
Viewers are able to receive high-quality, crystal-clear
pictures. These visually stunning pictures, with
more than twice the resolution and clarity of standard
television, are displayed in a widescreen 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, viewers have the option
of a six-channel CD-quality "surround sound."
In other words, viewers are able to enjoy a true
home theater experience. |
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| 4. |
Why is WMFE-HD no longer running
the PBS HD Showcase? |
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Up until May 15,
we were using a temporary set-up that allowed
us to showcase the striking programming available
from PBS in high definition or HD. It was always
our intention (and a federal mandate from the
FCC) that we would eventually replicate the broadcast
or simulcast WMFE-TV Analog Channel 24’s
programming on our new digital channel, WMFE-HD.
On May 16, we did begin simulcasting. We will
continue to telecast on the new channel in digital
and in widescreen high definition when available. |
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| 5. |
Why aren’t the majority
of the programs you are telecasting on WMFE-HD in
“True HD?” |
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At this time, PBS only has a limited
selection of new programming in the “True
HD” format. We are telecasting in “True
HD” when it is available. |
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| 6. |
What is multicasting? |
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WMFE is able to transmit
multiple channels of television programming simultaneously.
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| 7. |
Why does WMFE's transition to
digital technology deserve your support? |
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The FCC has mandated
that all public TV stations -- like WMFE -- must
convert to digital programming, which imposes
a significant financial burden on WMFE and other
public television stations. WMFE is not able to
make the transition without your support and that
of the Central Florida community. Unlike our commercial
TV counterparts, WMFE is constrained in our ability
to obtain substantial financing for this major
capital expenditure. We can't issue bonds, obtain
a loan or seek venture capital.
Only WMFE uses its digital spectrum
to ensure that all Central Floridians have access
to high quality education services and programming
in the digital era -- just as we have for the
last 40 years. The commercial marketplace cannot
be relied upon to provide the quality, noncommercial
educational services in the public interest. |
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| 8. |
Why can DTV offer so much more
information? |
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The key is video compression. Compression
allows a vast amount of data -- in this case, gigabits
of a television picture or other information --
to be reduced for transmission. In the United States,
the DTV signal is reduced to 19.4 million bits per
second! (To put this in perspective, the telephone
line to your home handles 28,000 bits per second.)
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| 9. |
Will I be able to watch digital
television on my existing set/s? |
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Yes, but you will need new equipment,
such as 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 you to receive programs broadcast
on DTV channels on your analog TV sets. However,
in order to experience the full benefits of digital
television, including HDTV, you will eventually
need new digital television sets. |
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| 10. |
How much will new DTV receivers
cost? |
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Currently, new DTV sets are priced
at a $500 - $1,000 premium over current, comparably
featured analog sets. However, prices are beginning
to fall rapidly. Consumer electronics manufacturers
have a track record of quickly adapting complex
technology so that it becomes affordable and accessible
to the general public. |
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| 11. |
What do the new digital television
sets look like? |
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New DTV sets have wider screens than
your current TV sets, allowing the pictures to be
viewed more like those you experience in a movie
theater. The wider picture, especially in larger
set sizes, is expected to enhance sports and drama
viewing, making you feel more involved in the action,
as well as rendering more realistic pictures. As
with current TV sets, a range of sizes eventually
will be available, although initially larger screen
size DTV sets probably will be most common. Larger
screen size takes greatest advantage of the higher
"resolution" of DTV pictures and may better
justify the initially high price of the first DTV
receivers. The expectation is also that there will
be a range of prices that will coincide with a range
of picture quality, as with current TV sets. |
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| 12. |
Do I need a special new antenna
in order to receive WMFE Digital? |
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In general, dependable reception of
DTV requires the same type of signal reception equipment
that currently works to provide good quality reception
of analog TV signals. If you now need a rooftop
antenna in order to receive television, the same
antenna generally will be needed to receive DTV
reception. |
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| 13. |
How quickly will DTV become available
across Central Florida and America? |
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WMFE-DT/Channel 24 began
telecasting on October 14, 2003. As of May 2002,
all commercial TV stations were required by the
FCC to be transmitting a digital signal on their
respective DTV channels. |
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| 14. |
How has WMFE funded the digital
transition? |
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We have estimated an
expense
need of approximately $8.1 million dollars
to cover the complete technological transformation
of WMFE-TV and related equipment.
Based upon WMFE's own 40 year experience
raising funds in Central Florida and the assessment
WMFE sought from outside fundraising counsel,
a $8.1 million dollar revenue goal will essentially
be raised from five important
sources -- individual donors and members,
area foundations, from state and federal government,
and the balance from local corporations.
Realizing our dreams will take imagination
and commitment from many viewers, institutions
and friends like you. We think the results are
worth it! |
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| 15. |
How will digital television benefit
me or most folks in Central Florida? |
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The advent of DTV will benefit you
and others because of the improved quality, and
possibly quantity, of free television service and
the availability of much more information on your
television set. In addition, one of the most important
benefits of DTV is the fact that it will free up
parts of the broadcast spectrum and allow its return
to the government for other important uses. A part
of this additional spectrum has already been designated
for public safety, police and fire usage, and other
options will be available for other business purposes. |
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| 16. |
How will digital television enhance
WMFE development of educational services? |
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Already a major source of educationally
stimulating programming material for thousands of
Central Florida teachers and even more parents and
care givers in our community, WMFE will use DTV's
capacity to broadcast multiple signals to offer
several simultaneous "channels" of programs
-- dedicated to children's programs, cultural events,
ethnic and multicultural issues, and other lifelong
learning experiences for those who would like to
continue their education. |
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| 17. |
What happens to Analog Channel
24 after the conversion to Digital Channel 24 is
completed? |
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The FCC currently anticipates the
transition to DTV-only service for the end of 2006
although some industry watchers believe 2009 is
more likely. After the transition is complete WMFE
and other broadcasters will be required to return
to the government the portion of the spectrum currently
used for analog stations. |
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| 18. |
What happens if digital television
is not widely available by the end of the transition
period? |
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The transition
period to DTV is currently scheduled to end on
December 31, 2006, but may be extended. This transition
period is subject to periodic progress reviews
by the FCC to make sure that DTV service is widely
available. In addition, the Balanced Budget Act
of 1997 includes provisions that would extend
the continuation of analog service beyond the
year 2006 deadline if DTV is implemented more
slowly than expected.
The FCC has noted specific conditions
that would extend the transition period. Those
conditions may delay the transition if fewer than
85 percent of the TV households in the community
are able to receive digital TV signals over-the-air
either with a digital TV set or with an analog
set equipped with a converter box or by subscription
to a cable-type service that carries the DTV stations
in the market. |
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| 19. |
How is DTV different from digital
broadcast satellite (DBS)? |
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Broadcast DTV and DBS both use
digital transmission. However, DTV uses the ATSC
format (which brings you HDTV, multicasting, datacasting,
and other ancillary services). Another key difference
is that terrestrial broadcast DTV will be over-the-air,
and is free to you and all viewers, whereas DBS
is a pay subscription service. |
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| 20. |
What other resources regarding
DTV are available? |
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