Latest News
PRESS CONTACT:
Angie Rapp, WIPB-TV Marketing Manager
arapp@bsu.edu
| 765-285-2742
WIPB-TV To End Analog Signal on February 17
(Muncie, Ind., Feb. 9, 2009) WIPB Public Television
plans to discontinue its analog signal at midnight on Tuesday, Feb. 17,
2009. Although
the United States Congress recently granted an extension to stations to
carry the analog signals until June 12, financial constraints have led
to the plan to end the analog signal on the original shut-off date.
“As with many community businesses, WIPB is addressing the challenge of
rising costs and declining revenue,” stated Alice Cheney, WIPB General
Manager. “In order to preserve the high quality programming
our viewers have come to expect, we are cutting costs anywhere we can. We
are leaving no stone unturned.”
“While we can empathize with many of our community members who may not
yet be ready for the digital conversion, the cost of continuing to carry the
analog signal along with our digital signal is prohibitive for WIPB,” continued
Cheney. “The electric costs alone for using the analog signal from
February until the new June date would be $30,000. As a public television
station, we simply don’t have the financial resources to continue
our analog signal beyond Feb. 17.”
Other costs pertaining to the analog signal include maintenance of WIPB’s
tower and transmitter. The analog signal transmitter was purchased in 1977,
and a replacement tube purchased a few years ago cost $7,500 (it was purchased
as a previously used tube). As long as WIPB continues to use its
analog signal tower, the station is responsible for the tower lights --
which were hit by lightning a year ago and repaired at a cost of $10,000.
WIPB began transmitting its digital signal on Oct. 31, 2005, and has expanded
the station’s reach into the Indianapolis metro area, western Ohio
and as far north as Fort Wayne. With the digital signal, WIPB can now be
seen by
one million households, reaching a total population of 2.4 million people.
Beyond expanding WIPB’s audience, DTV enables the station to transmit programming
with higher resolution for dramatically better picture and sound quality than
what is available on the current analog system. DTV also gives WIPB the
ability to “multi-cast” – transmit several different
programs at once, currently on two different channels. For programming
information visit www.wipb.org.
The FCC has established a review process for stations wishing to convert
on the original date. WIPB will be working through that process this
week and expects for it to be complete in time to terminate the signal
on Feb. 17.
If you do not have cable or satellite service, to prepare for the transition
to digital television, viewers will either need a newer TV set that is
equipped with a digital tuner or they may keep their existing TV sets and
purchase a converter box. An antenna is required when using a converter box. Viewers
who currently watch WIPB on cable or Dish Network will not need additional
equipment to receive the digital signal.
For an update on the converter box coupon program, visit www.dtv2009.gov.
For more details regarding DTV and the options it provides viewers as well as
television stations, visit www.dtv.gov.
WIPB program covers digital tv basics
Making the Switch to Digital to Air Thursday, 1/15 at 8 p.m.(Muncie, Ind., January 13, 2009)-- WIPB Public Television will air an informative program regarding the switch to digital television in advance of the current switch date of February 17, 2009. Making the Switch to Digital will air Thursday, January 15 at 8 p.m.
Making the Switch to Digital will be hosted by Al Rent, Ball State University director of relationship marketing & community relations, who will discuss the digital transition with WIPB's senior broadcast engineer Bob Rickner. Included in the discussion will be the differences in signal between analog and digital, types of antennas, converter boxes and televisions, as well as the benefits to digital television.
In addition to viewing PBS's nationally-produced Getting Ready for Digital TV, Al Rent and Bob Rickner will answer viewers' questions live. To ask a question, viewers may call (800) 252-WIPB while the program is on the air. A panel of WIPB engineers will take answer viewer questions.
Digital television will provide better quality picture and sound and allows stations to "multicast" or send multiple streams of programming. Currently, WIPB's digital signals provide programming on three channels: WIPB, WIPB-DT, and WIPB-DT2. WIPB-DT airs the digital version of the programs found on WIPB. WIPB-DT2 provides alternate programming, such as cooking and travels shows while WIPB airs children's programming.
In recent days there has been a call by President-Elect Barak Obama to delay the February 17 nationwide transition date, stating there is not enough funding to back the coupon program, which allows people to buy discounted converter boxes to translate digital signals to analog televisions. According to Nielson Television Research, 6.8 of those citizens with televisions had not upgraded their sets to receive the digital signal as of December 2008. The latest information regarding the coupon program will be included on Making the Switch to Digital.
"We're excited about switching permanently to digital so that all our viewers can enjoy the programs we offer on all three of our signals. There's much confusion among consumers regarding what digital television is, and what they need to do to receive digital signals. WIPB's Making the Switch to Digital will provide those consumers with all the information they will need to step into the digital television age," stated Alice Cheney, WIPB General Manager.
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WIPB TO PRODUCE 2009 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Daniels speech to be broadcast statewide(Muncie, Ind., January 7, 2009)--WIPB Public Television announced today that the station has been selected to produce live coverage of the 2009 State of the State Address, providing the broadcast of the speech to commercial and public television stations across Indiana.
Governor Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. will give the State of the State Address on Tuesday, January 13, at 7:00 p.m. on (Comcast--check local listings) cable channel 2, analog channel 49 or WIPB-DT 49.1). The address is the fifth State of the State Address for Governor Daniels, who began his term in January 2005.
In light of the current economic downturn in Indiana, Daniels is expected to discuss his recent state budget proposal which includes cuts for tourism programs, some support of the arts, and the entire $3.5 million state appropriation for public broadcasting. His proposal also calls for state agencies to receive an average of 8 percent less compared with the last budget, state universities would receive a 4 percent cut in their operating funds, and the state Medicaid program would be cut by 2 percent, while maintaining services for all eligible recipients.
Daniels has definitively stated that Indiana’s 1.3 billion surplus remain untouched should the recession last longer than currently expected. He has cited the $33 million shortfall in December state revenues as an example of needing to be especially cautious regarding the spending of the surplus.
Daniels is also expected to highlight his 2009 legislative agenda, including a majority of recommendations from the Commission on Local Government Reform’s 2007 report. Some of the most significant recommendations include changing to a one county executive, a stronger legislative body for county government, elimination of townships, and reorganization of school district central office operations.
WIPB is the only public television station in Indiana with a 40-foot remote truck fully equipped to do live broadcasts, and utilizes the truck regularly for game broadcasts on the Ball State Sports Network.
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WIPB Tagline: A PBS affiliate, WIPB is licensed to Ball State University and serves nearly 400,000 households in east central Indiana and western Ohio. For programming information visit WIPB Online at www.bsu.edu/wipb or call the station at 765-285-1249.
