On April 13, 2007, a new era began local TV news in Kentucky. WKYT broadcast the Lexington market’s first locally produced newscast in high definition- “True HD.” It was also first in the state- and one of only a handful of stations around the country to broadcast locally in high definition. WKYT will offer nearly 30 hours of local news each week in True HD, in addition to the strong HD lineup offered by CBS. Also, over 50 hours of local sports programming, including coach shows for the University of Kentucky, will be produced in HD as well.
Thank you for your recent email concerning WKYT HD programming. Most likely you will need a different antenna to receive WKYT HD programming. WKYT’s digital channels are actually in the VHF channel range, not UHF as the current analog channel 27 or even the other Lexington stations digital channels. The other problem could be that even though you have a digital television, you need to make sure that the set has a digital NTSC receiver built in, or that you have a set-top digital receiver. The digital programming can only be picked up with a digital receiver. Assuming that you have the correct receiver, it is most likely your antenna. You will need to either get a second antenna made for the VHF channel range or a new antenna that is designed to receive both UHF and VHF channels. When you are able to receive WKYT’s digital programming, you should be able to actually receive three separate channels. Channel 27.1 is a simulcast of our analog channel with HD programming when it is available from the networks or our local newscasts. Channel 27.2 is our CWkyt channel which carries The CW Network programming, and channel 27.3 is our weather radar which can be seen whenever severe weather is in the area.
I hope this answers you question, but please feel free to contact
us if you
have any further questions or need any additional information.
If you are a cable subscriber to Insight, Time Warner, Frankfort Cable, and
several other cable operators, you should be able to get WKYT-HD on their digital
cable package. Unfortunately, at this time neither DirecTV or Dish Network
offer any of the Lexington stations in HD. It is a problem with the amount
of channel capacity that the satellite providers have currently. If you are
on satellite, you might want to contact your provider to see if and when they
have plans to add the Lexington HD channels to their service.
Digital TV (DTV) is turbo-charged television, yielding clearer pictures, better sound, more programming and more viewing excitement than traditional analog television. Digital TV offers a picture free of "ghosts," "snow" or interference. The crisper, sharper image is due to the increased number of pixels the digital signal puts on the screen, the higher the number, the sharper the picture and High-definition Television (HDTV) has the highest resolution available.
Furthermore, HDTV provides 5.1 channels of Dolby Digital CD-quality surround sound, adding to the ultimate home theater experience. Digital TV also enables broadcasters to multicast, bringing viewers multiple channels of over-the-air programming simultaneously in a Standard-definition Television.
Digital TV brings viewers five times the picture resolution and clarity of
analog TV, making viewers feel like they are right in the middle of the action
on their screens. Digital TV uses binary code, the same system of ones and zeroes that runs on computers and digitally recorded compact discs.
Switching TV broadcasts to digital is like switching from cassette tape to compact disc or from a VHS tape to a DVD, the pictures are clearer, and sound is improved, giving viewers the opportunity to experience their favorite programs on a whole new level. In addition, with a 16:9 aspect ratio compared to today's 4:3 aspect ratio of analog television, Digital TV lets viewers see much wider images.
No. Unlike digital cable where consumers pay monthly fees for services, Digital TV provides high quality programming and more content via free, over-the-air broadcasts.
Until the total conversion to Digital TV is made, broadcasters will generally simulcast the same programs on two different channels. One in a digital format and one in analog. Viewers with analog sets will be able to convert a digital signal to an analog signal by hooking up a digital tuner decoder box to their sets; however, they will not be able to experience the crystal clear pictures and sound quality that an HDTV set provides, nor will they experience the advantages of datacasting or interactive television.
Digital TV gives broadcasters the flexibility to bring viewers programming on different types of digital signals — ranging from high-definition to standard-definition. Digital TV signals have better resolution than analog TV, which has been in use for more than 50 years.
High-definition digital signals also have five times the resolution than that of analog. With Digital TV, broadcasters can send various signals to consumers, including: High-definition Television (HDTV) - An HDTV signal allows a broadcaster to transmit a wide-screen picture with many times more detail than is contained in current analog TV pictures. HDTV brings viewers programming so crisp and so clear, it produces an image as sharp as reality. In addition HDTV offers unsurpassed audio quality. Standard-definition Television (SDTV) - An SDTV signal is another type of signal that viewers experience through DTV. While SDTV signals eliminate ghosting and snow they are particularly remarkable because they occupy less space on the allocated spectrum than high-definition signals and bring viewers multiple channels of free, over-the-air programming from the same station.
When shopping for a new TV set, consumers today have choices. Please visit www.CE.org for more information.
An integrated Digital TV set — This option allows viewers to receive analog and digital signals. An integrated set can project high-definition(HD), enhanced-definition (ED) or standard-definition (SD) signals. An HDTV set has the highest resolution available and provides the ultimate home theater experience. An integrated Digital TV set provides consumers the most convenient, hassle-free way to experience Digital TV.
A Digital TV monitor and a separate digital tuner decoder box - This option allows consumers to upgrade to Digital TV when ready. If consumers choose to purchase only a Digital TV monitor, they will get a wide-screen format and improved picture. In order to receive an over-the-air signal with a Digital TV monitor, consumers must purchase a set-top decoder box. These boxes may be used with HD, ED or SD monitors. Not all set-top digital tuners are the same, some cable companies and satellite companies require different turners.
An analog set - If consumers buy an analog set today, they will not receive any of the benefits of Digital TV, including the clearest pictures and sound ever available. Because an analog set does not have a digital tuner, consumers will have to purchase a digital tuner decoder box to watch Digital
Digital TV sets are available at both retail stores nationwide as well as online. Like CD players, computers and personal digital assistants, the prices for Digital TV sets continue to drop as the technology becomes more prominent. In fact, prices for Digital TV sets have decreased and are available in stores today starting at under $1,200. Equally important, sales of DTV monitors and sets (monitors with integrated tuners) are rising each According to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the total manufacturer-to-retailer products sold in 2001 totaled 1,459,731 units. Total sales for the year surpassed CEA's initial 2001 forecasts of 1.1 million units. Between January and March of 2002, the sales of integrated sets and set top boxes had already reached 148,369 units. CEA projects that 2.1 million Digital TV products will be sold in 2002, 5.4 million in 2004, 8 million in 2005 and 10.5 million in 2006.
The Digital TV transition is happening now. As of early June 2002, 422 stations in 128 markets, that include 87 percent of American TV households, are broadcasting a digital signal. On February 17, 2009, all broadcasters will be required to shut off the analog signals they’ve been pumping out for decades. All TVs, thereafter, will need to be able to tune digital signals, either by their new built-in tuners in new TVs or separate “set-top” boxes you’ll be able to purchase for older televisions. This, of course, only applies to those using an antenna to receive TV over the air. Those with satellite or cable boxes will simply use those as a tuner.
For all the info on the FCC’s mandated analog shutoff date, click here.
Incidentally, after March 1st, all new TVs are required by law to include the new built-in digital tuners.
Digital cable is not the same as Digital Television. First, Digital TV can deliver picture quality superior to that of digital cable. Second, most cable companies do not yet carry broadcasters' digital signals.
Digital cable refers only to how signals are transferred across cable. Moreover, because there are not yet universal interoperability standards, a digital set that is plugged into a digital cable set-top box only will receive an analog signal, withholding all the advantages of Digital Television from a consumer. Check with your local cable company for the best options available.