By now, everyone is pretty well aware of the need to either purchase a Digital converter for their TV or to upgrade to a new Digital TV before February, 2009. Many of our viewers have been doing just that and the phones in Member Services are ringing as viewers connect to the Digital signal and discover a big surprise. Viewers watching through an antenna tune in to Channel 56 and find not one but THREE options (four if you count the original analog signal). Many cable providers are beginning to include the Digital and High Definition channels in their lineup as well. Needless to say, there is some confusion when first confronting multiple choices and lots of questions too.
With the conversion to Digital, multiple broadcast “channels” are available in the space of the “original” channel. This is because the digital broadcast remains within a very tight range and allows multiple signals to be sent out together while keeping the separate programs intact. In the “analog” world you tune in channel 56 and then “fine tune” your signal by adjusting within a range. In the “digital” world you tune in channel 56.1 with no “fine tuning” required. This means that 56.2 can carry a totally different program than 56.1 does while still providing a much clearer image quality than the original analog signal could provide. This means that, technically, all channels can actually provide 9 different programs at one time if the station chooses to do so.
DPTV has already “jumped” on this capability and is currently broadcasting our original analog signal on 56, our High Definition signal is found on 56.1, our digital simulcast (the digital version of our analog programming) is on 56.2, and on 56.3 is our newest “channel” Create. The Create channel carries home shows, cooking, travel and arts and crafts programs 24/7.
Once viewers understand this wonderful development, the next question is always: “How do I know what is showing on each channel?”
The current answer is our online program schedule. Our Signal guide is geared to the majority of our member viewers who, unfortunately, are still only receiving ONE channel 56 through our analog broadcast. The online schedule provides program listings for all 4 channels.
Some people say that the online guide is hard to use because it only shows a 2 hour view for all 4 channels. That’s just because they’re afraid to click around in it! True the default view lets you see a 2 hour glimpse for all 4 channels but you can click on full day at the top of the grid and see an entire day’s programming. Another guide option allows you to pick a channel along the left side of the grid and view all programming for that channel either daily, or weekly and allows you to view up to 2 weeks worth of schedule. The full day or full week views can be printed from your computer by clicking on the print version once you have the view you want on the guide appearing on your screen.
Another great benefit of using the online guide is the fact that it is updated when programming changes are made so you always have the most up to date scheduling info available. The printed Signal guide is accurate as of the printing date but can’t alert you to programming changes. Plus, you can click on the title of a program in the online guide and see other viewing times and channel options. More and more programs are being broadcast at different dates and times on the analog/digital simulcast channel and the High Definition channel, giving you more viewing options.
Don’t forget that our email newsletters are another great way to know what’s changed and what’s coming up on DPTV channels.
Now that you know about all the choices available to you on Digital, and how to better customize the online schedule for your needs, doesn’t it make sense to start watching in Digital now instead of waiting until February?
Pam Reynolds
DPTV Member Services
With the conversion to Digital, multiple broadcast “channels” are available in the space of the “original” channel. This is because the digital broadcast remains within a very tight range and allows multiple signals to be sent out together while keeping the separate programs intact. In the “analog” world you tune in channel 56 and then “fine tune” your signal by adjusting within a range. In the “digital” world you tune in channel 56.1 with no “fine tuning” required. This means that 56.2 can carry a totally different program than 56.1 does while still providing a much clearer image quality than the original analog signal could provide. This means that, technically, all channels can actually provide 9 different programs at one time if the station chooses to do so.
DPTV has already “jumped” on this capability and is currently broadcasting our original analog signal on 56, our High Definition signal is found on 56.1, our digital simulcast (the digital version of our analog programming) is on 56.2, and on 56.3 is our newest “channel” Create. The Create channel carries home shows, cooking, travel and arts and crafts programs 24/7.Once viewers understand this wonderful development, the next question is always: “How do I know what is showing on each channel?”
The current answer is our online program schedule. Our Signal guide is geared to the majority of our member viewers who, unfortunately, are still only receiving ONE channel 56 through our analog broadcast. The online schedule provides program listings for all 4 channels.
Some people say that the online guide is hard to use because it only shows a 2 hour view for all 4 channels. That’s just because they’re afraid to click around in it! True the default view lets you see a 2 hour glimpse for all 4 channels but you can click on full day at the top of the grid and see an entire day’s programming. Another guide option allows you to pick a channel along the left side of the grid and view all programming for that channel either daily, or weekly and allows you to view up to 2 weeks worth of schedule. The full day or full week views can be printed from your computer by clicking on the print version once you have the view you want on the guide appearing on your screen.
Another great benefit of using the online guide is the fact that it is updated when programming changes are made so you always have the most up to date scheduling info available. The printed Signal guide is accurate as of the printing date but can’t alert you to programming changes. Plus, you can click on the title of a program in the online guide and see other viewing times and channel options. More and more programs are being broadcast at different dates and times on the analog/digital simulcast channel and the High Definition channel, giving you more viewing options.
Don’t forget that our email newsletters are another great way to know what’s changed and what’s coming up on DPTV channels.
Now that you know about all the choices available to you on Digital, and how to better customize the online schedule for your needs, doesn’t it make sense to start watching in Digital now instead of waiting until February?
Pam Reynolds
DPTV Member Services
No comments:
Post a Comment