WOUB-TV to Install New Dual
Analog/Digital Transmitter; Off-Air July 2- August 2
Contact: Olivea Oldham, WOUB Public Information Coordinator, Olivea_Oldham@woub.pbs.org, (740) 593-4944; you can call (740) 593-1771 to schedule an interview with David Wiseman, Telecommunications Center Director Carolyn Bailey-Lewis, or Telecommunications Center Assoc. Director Paul Witkowski
ATHENS, Ohio (June 27, 2000) -- Ohio University Public Television will begin installation of a new transmitter on July 2, 2000, to prepare for the digital future. Digital television is the wave of the future, and the new transmitter will open the door to the digital age. Ohio University Public Television is preparing to make significant changes in the way television is broadcast. Ohio University Public Television's engineering staff, headed by David Wiseman, has been planning this digital conversion process since 1990. "In addition to replacing worn and obsolete equipment, this installation will position Ohio University Public Television to expand its services," he says. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated the conversion to digital television for all public and commercial television stations.
The WOUB-TV transmitter will sign off the air on July 2, 2000, to replace the current transmitter with the new dual analog/digital transmitter. WOUB-TV will be off the air for approximately four weeks, and will sign back on the air on August 2, 2000. At that time, WOUB-TV will have a cleaner and clearer channel 20 reception. WOUC-TV channel 44, which serves the northern part of the coverage area, will not be affected at this time.
The replacement comes at a good time for Ohio University Public Television because the current analog transmitter is nearly 20 years old. The current transmitter is showing its age and has warranted much attention and repairs over the past few years. There have been times when the engineering staff has been quite challenged to keep the public broadcasting service on the air for the region. Keeping viewers in the forefront, Ohio University Public Television wants to bring the best in television to the region, and this is a significant step towards reaching this goal.
The funding necessary to accomplish this replacement comes from a federal Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) grant, from the Ohio Educational Telecommunications Network Commissions (OETNC) and from Ohio University. The PTFP, a division of the Department of Commerce, supports the expansion and improvement of public telecommunications services, providing matching grants for facilities that disseminate noncommercial educational and cultural programs. This funding is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the overall digital conversion costs. Ohio University Public Television will be required to provide a digital signal throughout the region by 2003.
Ohio University Public Television apologizes to members and viewers for any inconvenience that the WOUB transmitter replacement will cause, but promises to keep the outage as short as possible. WOUB realizes that Public Television is an important service to many children and families throughout the region. When the new transmitter is in place and WOUB returns to the air in August, Ohio University Public Television (WOUB/WOUC-TV) will begin testing a 24-hour service, with a goal of going 24-hours on September 17, 2000.
WOUB-TV channel 20 will continue with regular programming by direct feed to Time Warner, the Athens area cable system, which will not be affected by this transition period. The counties in the region that will be affected during this sign off period will include: (Ohio) Athens, Fairfield, Galia, Jackson, Hocking, Licking, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Pickaway, Ross, Vinton, and Washington; (western West Virginia) Jackson, Mason, Pleasants, Wirt, and Wood.
Ohio University Public Television would like to thank members and viewers for their continued support.
The Ohio University Telecommunications Center, a unit of the College of Communication, operates two television stations‹WOUB-TV/Channel 20 in Athens and WOUC-TV/Channel 44 in Cambridge‹and six radio stations‹WOUB-1340 AM, WOUB-91.3 FM, WOUC-89.1 FM, WOUH-91.9 FM, WOUL-89.1 FM and WOUZ-90.1 FM. The Center, a trusted community resource, uses the power of noncommercial television, radio and other media, such as the World Wide Web, to enrich the lives of children and adults in Southeastern Ohio and Western West Virginia through quality programs and educational services that inform, enlighten, inspire and entertain.
