Area television to wait for June 12 switch

MAT-SU — Alaska television stations will take advantage of a move by Congress that allows broadcasters to extend their deadline for implementing digital television transmission to June 12.

Broadcasters in Anchorage say they have agreed to make the transition from free analog television over the airwaves to digital at the same time and to push back the switch from an original planned Feb. 17 implementation.

“Everybody up to now had been planning on the February date,” said Jerry Bever, general manager fro KTVA Channel 11 in Anchorage. “For KTVA, we’re going to take advantage of that extension.”

Although Congress pushed back the deadline last week, broadcasters still have the choice to make the switch to digital television anytime between Feb. 17 and June 12, said Kirsten Bolton, general manager for KTBY Channel 4 in Anchorage. Viewers who don’t have a television capable of receiving a digital signal will have to either get a new TV, purchase a converter box or subscribe to a pay television service.

Locally, broadcasters decided to make the transition at the same time to avoid confusion, Bolton said. Because Channel 11 wanted to wait until the June 12 deadline, all the stations will, she said. That decision is expected to be finalized next month when the stations get together for their annual meeting.

“We tabled that discussion for our annual meeting next month, but my guess is it’s done,” she said. “It’s to show solidarity so no one broadcaster gets hit with the backlash. We felt it was best to do it as a group.”

At KAKM public television, the station’s Web site says it is also targeting the June 12 date, but will hold off on an official decision until its media lawyers can advise on the best route to take.

“For now, KAKM is continuing to air all required announcements about the Feb. 17, 2009 analog TV shutdown date,” the site says. “We are working to replace these notices with new ones that reference the June 12, 2009 date instead. … KAKM currently expects to continue broadcasting our analog TV signal up to the June 12 deadline.”

Waiting another four months can only benefit viewers, Bever said. With the extra time, those with analog television sets who have been waiting for $40 government-issued rebate coupons for converter boxes may have a chance to get their converters. The funding to issue the coupons was depleted before Congress acted last week.

“My thinking is, if they’re going to give us until June 12, there’s absolutely no negative impact on the viewer to go to June 12,” Bever said. “Now they’ve funded (the converter coupon fund) with more money, so those who missed out on it in the first round have an opportunity to get it in this second round.”

That Congress changed the rules for the digital television transition so close to the Feb. 17 target has been frustrating for many broadcasters, Bolton said. Public service announcements and publicity campaigns to educate viewers have been geared toward Feb. 17 and stations incur additional costs every month for operating both analog and digital transmission sites.

“I just wish they would’ve picked that (June 12 date) originally,” she said, adding broadcasters want to be pushing a digital signal. “It’s the preferred signal. It’s the highest quality we’ve seen.”

For stations like Channel 11, however, the extra costs associated with waiting until June 12 “does not outweigh” the benefits to consumers, Bever said.

“It just means that we keep going like we are,” he said. “A lot of broadcasters have been set on this (February) date, but it’s like getting extra time to study on a test.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.