OPT to make switch to digital

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Ozarks Public Television, which operates KOZK in Springfield and KOZJ in Joplin, is preparing for its switch to enhanced digital broadcasting.|ret||ret||tab|

The reason for the switch, according to Sarah White, president and general manager of OPT, is that the Federal Communications Commission has mandated that all television stations use digital broadcasting.|ret||ret||tab|

"The deadline for commercial broadcasters is May 1 of 2002, and the deadline for public television stations is May 1 of the year 2003," White said.|ret||ret||tab|

The switch to digital broadcasting will enable OPT to broadcast as many as four different channels of programming simultaneously, White said. She said the stations now have more programming than can fit single channels in Springfield and Joplin. White said the plans for the additional channels haven't yet been finalized, but it's possible that one will be dedicated to instructional programs for the public schools, and another, to higher learning.|ret||ret||tab|

White said Public Broadcasting Service also is developing some channels that OPT may utilize.|ret||ret||tab|

"I think that some of the benefits to the viewers are going to be more choices, access to more public television programming ... I believe it's going to give us an opportunity for more local programming in the long run, and that's one of the things we want to do more of," she said.|ret||ret||tab|

The "enhanced" aspect of digital broadcasting means viewers with digital-compatible televisions, computers or converter boxes will be able to access online information pertinent to various OPT programs.|ret||ret||tab|

"We'd have Web sites associated with some of our programming that viewers would be able to download on their computers as we broadcast, because it's all digital ... so it'll be sort of a huge modem broadcasting into every computer," White said.|ret||ret||tab|

"If you're watching Nova or any of those kinds of shows, you'll be able to go in-depth, and look at information about the subject matter," she added.|ret||ret||tab|

Dan Schiedel, vice president for production and corporate communications for OPT, said the online information will be part of the television programs' broadcast signal.|ret||ret||tab|

"The digital information is embedded in the signal, so you won't see it on the TV set, but it's digital data, information that you can download off the air onto your computer, if you want to. It can be teachers' guides or student guides that teachers can use in the classroom," Schiedel said.|ret||ret||tab|

White said she feels the additional services digital broadcasting will allow for educational programming are the most important aspect of the change. She said OPT now provides instructional programming to more than 44,000 schoolchildren each year.|ret||ret||tab|

"We'll be able to enhance those services, add some online components, and digital television is going to allow us to become more interactive with the schools," she said.|ret||ret||tab|

White said OPT will continue to broadcast its present Springfield channel, Channel 21, after the stations begin digital broadcasting. The new channel, digital Channel 23, also will air. White said OPT is required to continue airing Channel 21 until the market is saturated with digital reception. She said Congress has determined saturation to be the point at which 85 percent of television viewers have digital compatible televisions. She said digital televisions will allow viewers to choose which of OPT's multiple channel options they want to view. |ret||ret||tab|

White added that the station won't always broadcast multiple channels of programming, because for some programs, such as nature shows or concerts, OPT will use high-definition television to broadcast a single program on the air.|ret||ret||tab|

White said in anticipation of the switch to digital broadcasting, OPT officials have put off buying new production and broadcasting equipment for the last few years. |ret||ret||tab|

She said the estimated cost for OPT to make the switch to digital broadcasting is $4.6 million. The station hopes to secure some of the needed funding from the federal and state governments, but she said about $1.6 million will need to come from area foundations, corporations and individuals. |ret||ret||tab|

"The station has conducted capital campaigns in the past, and we will most likely do that as well. Right now, we're just in the awareness stage," White said.|ret||ret||tab|

She said both KOZK and KOZJ will be using digital broadcasting by the May 1, 2003 deadline, but the Springfield station will make the change first. White said about 60 public television stations have already made the switch to digital broadcasting.|ret||ret||tab|

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