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FIRSTS: Digital TV Broadcasts Hit the Airwaves Novmeber 4, 1998 It has been a long time coming, but the government-mandated switch to digital television is slated to begin this month. The three major networks and PBS recently announced their strategies for digital television, giving early adopters and retailers a variety of programming to look at. At press time, the Harris Group planned to broadcast Sen. John Glenn’s (D-Ohio) return to space in high-definition television. The company planned to broadcast the shuttle launch, enhanced footage of Glenn’s original voyage, and interviews with Glenn and Walter Cronkite in 1080i format Oct. 29. Various affiliates from all the major networks and PBS planned to carry the broadcast. ABC planned to begin its high-definition broadcasts with a 720p presentation of parent company Walt Disney Co.’s live-action “101 Dalmatians” Nov. 1. Following this, ABC plans to air all of the network’s primetime movies in 720p format. For November, ABC plans to broadcast seven films in high definition, and it has slated four in December. The network plans to show 14 films in 720p format next year. “[Movies] really show off HDTV,” according to ABC spokeswoman Claudia Ceniceros, adding film broadcasts will “open up the HDTV market” because those investing in high-definition TV are looking for an enhanced, home-theater experience. Ceniceros also said ABC is using film presentations as a first step because it is “fairly direct to convert them to high definition.” She added the network wants to show consistent high-definition broadcasts to create a “fair market test” of the technology. ABC considered broadcasting Monday Night Football in high definition “but thought theatricals are the best way to start,” according to Ceniceros. She added the films are slated to include commercials, which will be digital but not high-definition. As reported, CBS is slated to begin its high-definition service Nov. 8 when it carries a National Football League game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets. The game will be available in the New York City area in 1080i format on CBS’ flagship station WCBS-New York. The game is slated to be followed by other games broadcast in high definition, including the AFC divisional playoff game. CBS also plans to broadcast an episode of its popular medical drama “Chicago Hope” in 1080i format Nov. 18. “[CBS is] trying to offer a various sampling of CBS programming in high definition,” according to spokesman Dana McClintock, adding, “Football is a great venue for HDTV” because the format gives viewers the best possible picture during a live broadcast. Although NBC does not plan to originate any digital programming until a spring airing of “The Jay Leno Show,” spokesman Jeff Demeray said network affiliates in Los Angeles, Washington, Philadelphia, and Dallas plan to start broadcasting digitally formatted programming 24 hours a day before that. The stations plan to convert current analog programming to digital and are slated to begin digital broadcasts during the first week of November. Although the stations will use a variety of digital formats, Demeray noted the broadcasts will not be in high-definition quality—with a minimum of 720 lines of resolution. NBC chose this route to comply with the FCC’s digital TV mandate while the network finalizes its plans to begin national digital and HDTV broadcasts, Demeray said. PBS is planning to push into the digital market with two digital documentaries in mid-November. PBS will lead with a high-definition, 1080i broadcast of the documentary “Chihuly over Venice” Nov. 9. Ken Burns’ “Frank Lloyd Wright” is slated to follow Nov. 10. PBS plans to show “Frank Lloyd Wright” in an experimental digitally-enhanced format, with the simultaneous delivery of data, including video segments, to personal computers during the broadcast. PBS spokesman Kevin Dando stressed the broadcast will be interactive for a limited trial group equipped with 400 MHz Pentium-2 computers with digital TV receiver cards and software to receive, decode, and display the additional transmissions. According to spokeswoman Dara Goldberg, PBS initially plans to show one digital or high-definition broadcast per month. She noted PBS does not have the luxury of a film archive or sporting events, which can easily be translated to digital, so all PBS programming must be originally produced in digital format. She said PBS tries to “identify programming that will highlight the genre, to really make the programming look stunning” when picking digital programming. PBS also chose programs featuring artists and biographical information as its first digital programming because, Goldberg says, the network hopes to develop the medium for educational purposes. While all of the networks say they are excited about the opportunity of digital television, none are making plans to expand their digital offerings anytime soon. “We expect to do more than one program a month, once more stations go digital,” said Goldberg of PBS’ plans. ABC is “concentrating on phase one,” according to Dandridge, adding “it is way too early to make plans. We will see what the response is.” Added McClintock of CBS, “We are moving forward, but also taking a wait and see approach.” While all of the broadcaster networks are planning this month’s digital rollouts for the handful of cities in which affiliates have installed new digital equipment to carry the new signals, satellite dish owners—among the early adopter crowd for digital TVs—are eagerly awaiting the planned January rollout of consumer HDTV programming via satellite. At press time, DirecTv, whose systems are embedded in Thomson’s RCA and Pro-Scan brand digital TVs, planned to put up a high-definition channel for retailers Oct. 28, spokesman Bob Marsocci said (Satellite Business News, Oct. 21, 1998). The channel is designed purely for demonstrating how DirecTv and high-definition TV can work together, he said. The DBS service plans to show sports and movie clips, as well as nature and concert footage on the channel. DirecTv is also preparing to deliver a full-time high-definition channel to home audiences early next year, and the DBS provider plans to show three HDTV NFL football games, in conjunction with CBS, this fall. In conjunction with U.S. Satellite Broadcasting Inc., HBO also plans to begin broadcasting in high-definition at the beginning of next year, although no programming decisions have been made, sources there said. The DirecTv and HBO programming will be available nationally, rather than just in the markets where broadcasters have made the transition to digital. Therefore, dish owners beyond the top ten markets will be able to enjoy a high-definition picture, if not in their homes, then at their nearest high-definition TV retailer. —David Connell OTHER DIGITAL TV BEATS HBO HDTV GETS READY: Titles Coming Up On HBO HDTV March 10, 1999 THE DATA HORIZON: PBS Tackles the Bandwidth Usage Question February 24, 1999 RESEARCH: The Reports Are in, But the Conclusions Are Confusing February 10, 1999   NEW FEES: There Is No Such Thing as Free Spectrum January 27, 1999   CES TV TALK: More Buzz than the Sequins on an Elvis Jacket January 13, 1999   CES: Bright Lights, Big Pictures to Hit Vegas December 16, 1998   LOCAL EFFORTS: Broadcasters Give Viewers A Push Toward TV Purchase November 18, 1998   THOMSON'S DBS BRAIN: Channels ARE Plentiful in New Digital TV World October 21, 1998   DECISIONS, DECISIONS: Taking the Plunge into Digital TV October 7, 1998   FIREWIRE: So the Blender Says to the Toaster, He Says... September 23, 1998 They're Here... September 9, 1998   GOT AN IDEA? E-mail it to: general.mail @satbiznews.com WANT TO SPONSOR DIGITAL TV BEAT? Call 202-785-0505 or e-mail general.mail @satbiznews.com Please direct questions about this site to general.mail@satbiznews.com q 2000 Satellite Business News Inc. All rights reserved.