KY3 first to bring digital TV to Ozarks viewers

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The wave of the future comes with a price. For KY3, the price so far is $6 million.|ret||ret||tab|

That's what the station has spent in creating a new digital television channel. KY3 began broadcasting with a digital signal Jan. 31. |ret||ret||tab|

It is the first Springfield television station to do so and is three months ahead of the Federal Communications Com-mission's May 1 deadline. According to the FCC, all commercial stations must be transmitting some sort of digital signal by then. |ret||ret||tab|

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Setting the standard|ret||ret||tab|

KY3, already at full power, is realizing a goal that was six years in the making.|ret||ret||tab|

Chief Engineer Tom McKleroy said the station has been "actively pushing the buttons for three years. We're out in front on this for our market size," he said. "We turned this thing on full blast."|ret||ret||tab|

The digital signal is found on Channel 44, available only on sets with digital capability.|ret||ret||tab|

Other Springfield stations have been hesitant to make such capital leaps due to the lack of a digital television market. Only those viewers with digital set-top converter boxes or high-definition television sets can receive a picture.|ret||ret||tab|

At Colony Home Entertainment, which KY3 has partnered with to get the word out, high-definition televisions range from $1,800 to $10,000, said sales associate Mark Cloninger. And a set-top box will cost an additional $600 to $1,000 if the HDTV set does not have a digital tuner, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Jim Schuessler, general manager at KSPR 33, said the cost of those items is limiting the local market penetration. He questions spending the capital before there are enough viewers with digital sets. |ret||ret||tab|

Schuessler could not state a figure his station has spent on digital conversion, but he did say a capital plan is set for those needs.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's the mandated future," he said. "It is something that we are moving forward on within the parameters that the government expects us to."|ret||ret||tab|

While digital is the future of television set forth by the government, KY3 Gen-eral Manager Mike Scott has a different take.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's an investment in the future of our business," Scott said, an investment that is growing. |ret||ret||tab|

Another $6 million is expected to be spent by KY3 in studio conversion. The first $6 million was spent on a new antenna, tower, building, transmitter, microwave and encoder.|ret||ret||tab|

Now that a signal is out there, Mc-Kleroy believes the sales of high-definition televisions will follow.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's all just a function of somebody getting out there and putting up something to get the ball rolling, as we're trying to do," McKleroy said. "We're kind of taking a risk. We're out here doing what has to be done to see if a market can develop for this."|ret||ret||tab|

He also thinks the prices will begin to drop, similar to the way DVD players have decreased in price.|ret||ret||tab|

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FCC deadlines|ret||ret||tab|

But there is hope for those stations that aren't digitally equipped by May 1 the FCC may grant waivers. |ret||ret||tab|

"There are legitimate reasons why not all stations are going to meet the deadline," KY3's Scott said, citing Fox 27's tower collapse.|ret||ret||tab|

"We were on track to convert to digital when the tower leased by Fox 27 fell ... and that threw everything off," said KOLR General Manager Dean Wasson. "We are in the process of coming up with a new timetable."|ret||ret||tab|

KOLR and Fox 27 operate under a joint services agreement that combines sales, promotion and production areas of the two stations.|ret||ret||tab|

Wasson said a tower crew was re-served to do the digital conversion, but it was instead used to get Fox 27 back to full power which it did in time for the Super Bowl.|ret||ret||tab|

"Our corporate (VHR Broadcasting of Springfield Inc.) will be talking to the FCC if it proves necessary to extend beyond May 1," Wasson added. "We feel confident that they'll understand our situation."|ret||ret||tab|

More FCC deadlines loom in the fu-ture. Public stations are to have a digital signal up by May 1, 2003. But of greater impact is the 2006 deadline when the FCC would like to see a complete cross-over from analog to digital, McKleroy said. |ret||ret||tab|

According to a FCC release, the deadline is the end of 2006 or when digital television set penetration reaches 85 percent of the market.|ret||ret||tab|

For such penetration to occur, Scott said, an educational process must unfold.|ret||ret||tab|

"We're trying to initiate the market," he said. "People need to get out and see the difference. I think it sells itself at that point." [[In-content Ad]]