DTV switch a success

Posted at: 06/12/2009 11:00 AM | Updated at: 06/12/2009 11:08 AM
By: Kurt Christopher, KOB.com

After more than 60 years of broadcasting analog TV, KOB joined the rest of the nation in switching to digital-only TV Friday.

KOB and its satellite stations pulled the plug on analog TV programming Friday morning starting at 4:30 a.m.  All other full-power TV stations across the U.S. were required to end analog broadcasts by midnight.

KOB will maintain public service information on its analog TV Channel 4 for a couple of weeks.

Engineers reported few problems with the switchover Friday.  Any viewers experiencing difficulty receiving KOB's signal by antenna can call 1-866-503-3329, email dtv@kob.com or click here for a troubleshooting guide.

The most common issue for most viewers is antenna quality.  Many over-the-air viewers may find they need to upgrade their antenna in order to receive a quality digital TV signal.  You can find the best antenna for your address here.

If you receive KOB by cable or satellite and experience difficulty, you should contact your cable or satellite provider.

For KOB antenna viewers who watch via a low-power TV (LPTV) translator, only Datil, Horse Springs and Silver City have transitioned to DTV so far.  Other translators will be transitioned in the next few years.  Viewers can call 1-866-503-3329 or email dtv@kob.com with any questions on this.

The DTV transition marks the end of an era in airwaves.  KOB's analog TV signal Channel 4 was the first TV broadcast in New Mexico on September 13, 1948.  KOB was also the first commercial station in New Mexico to broadcast HDTV signals, with live broadcasts of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.  Today, KOB broadcasts HDTV programming regularly on DTV Channel 4-1 and the Eyewitness News 4 Local Weather Station on Channel 4-2.

With the DTV Transition now complete, here are details of what is available across New Mexico:

Albuquerque - Santa Fe area
HDTV programming broadcasts on DTV Channel 4-1 and the Local Weather Station on Channel 4-2.

Farmington area
Standard definition programming will continue on DTV Channel 12-1 until Fall 2009 when it will be upgraded to HDTV.  At that time, the Local Weather Station will be available on Channel 12-2.

Roswell area
Standard definition programming will continue on DTV Channel 8-1 until Fall 2009 when it will be upgraded to HDTV.  At that time, the Local Weather Station will be available on Channel 8-2.

Silver City
HDTV programming broadcasts on DTV Channel 4-1 and the Local Weather Station on Channel 4-2.  This is a low-power DTV translator that currently only reaches a small area in Silver City.  KOB is working with the FCC to increase its power to outlining areas by the end of 2009.

Datil / Horse Springs
These areas are served by a low-power DTV translator broadcasting HDTV programming on DTV Channel 4-1 and the Local Weather Station on Channel 4-2.

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