English-language stations oppose analog extension

Sep 15, 2008 11:11 AM

             

Several English-language TV stations along the border with Mexico have opposed efforts by Spanish-language stations to extend analog shutdown deadline for up to five additional years.

Executives from about a dozen border stations opposed the DTV Border Fix Act, which would allow qualified TV stations within 50mi of the border to broadcast in analog until 2014. The legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-TX, and Barbara Boxer, D-CA.

The proposed law “threatens to put viewers along the border in a state of limbo,” the executives wrote in a letter to the House Energy & Commerce Committee and its Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee. “Spanish-language broadcast interests have really pushed this because they want to continue transmissions to Mexico under the guise of emergency messages.”

The stations wrote, “We have spent literally millions of dollars to be digital-ready on 2/17/09. Many of us have multiple channels including local weather channels and targeted entertainment formats to better serve our markets and fulfill the promise of enhanced digital technologies. In the difficult financial environment today, should Congress now add the significant financial burden to border broadcasters of continuing analog broadcasting operations for an additional five years?“

Among the station owners represented on the letter were Tribune, Pappas Telecasting, Cox Television, McGraw-Hill, Sunbelt Communications and News Press & Gazette.




Want to use this article?
Click here for options!
Get Copyright Clearance

Share this article

blog comments powered by Disqus

 


Current Issue

A view from the top

January 2012

Some of broadcast's brightest reveal where the industry is headed.

Read More articles...

Related Newsletter

Transition to Digital
Provides readers with weekly timely updates on FCC actions, industry news, and station build-out schedules.

Related Posts


Confused about the terminology in an article? Find definitions of common terms and abbreviations in Broadcast Engineering's Glossary.

 


Submit your product for our NAB coverage.

Resources

Broadcast Engineering Newsletters Broadcast Engineering Essential Guides Broadcast Engineering White Papers Broadcast Engineering Videos Broadcast Engineering Podcasts Broadcast Engineering Industry Calendar

Industry Calendar

Broadcast Engineering Glossary of Terms

Glossary

Broadcast Engineering RSS feed

RSS

Interactive Media

Broadcast Engineering Webinars Broadcast Engineering Training Broadcast Engineering Blogs Broadcast Engineering Mobile Apps Broadcast Engineering on Facebook

Facebook

Broadcast Engineering JobZone

JobZone

Broadcast Engineering BE Roll

Blog

Featured Products

A Broadcaster's Guide To Camera & Lens Technology

A Broadcaster's Guide To Camera & Lens TechnologyThis eBook provides both new and veteran shooters an in-depth understanding of the technology that lies between the camera lens and the recording medium and how to maximize a camera's performance.

File Based Technology and Workflow

File Based Technology and WorkflowFile-based technologies have replaced video tape methods for a majority of production and broadcast operations. The worlds of AV and IT are coalescing to create new methods and workflows for media

Digital Television Fundamentals

Digital Television FundamentalsThis course, written by broadcast engineer Phil Cianci, provides a basic tutorial platform on the hows and whys of ATSC digital operation.

Video Compression, Editing and Displays

Video Compression, Editing and DisplaysVideo compression, editing and displays is an in-depth tutorial on MPEG compression technology, editing MPEG content and evaluating color video monitors written by long-time video expert, trainer and writer Steve Mullen, Ph. D.

 

 

Sound Off Podcasts

Erik Moreno, co-general manager of the Mobile Content Venture

MCV racks up successes on way to bright mobile DTV future

2012 will be the year of mobile DTV. That’s the view of Erik Moreno, who along with Salil Dalvi, senior VP for Mobile Platform Development at NBC Universal, is co-general manager of the Mobile Content Venture.

Danny Wilson

OTT year in review

Hear snippets of podcast interviews done throughout 2011 with Pat McDonough of The Nielsen Company, Glen Friedman of Ideas & Solutions!, Danny Wilson of Pixelmetrix and Greg Herman of Watch TV. Pictured is Danny Wilson, Pixelmetrix.

 

Broadcast Engineering Digital Reference Guide

Browse Back Issues

Back to Top