Posted on 06/17/2009 8:29:02 AM PDT by raccoonradio
WHDH-TV acknowledged yesterday what thousands of viewers had already discovered since last Friday’s nationwide conversion to digital television: its Channel 7 signal is hard to get in the post-analog era.
The NBC affiliate said yesterday that it has begun simulcasting its signal on Channel 42, its temporary sister digital station, until it works out “signal difficulties” with the Federal Communications Commission.
“We are very sorry for the inconvenience to our viewers, and we hope to have this resolved quickly,” said general manager Chris Wayland.
In a statement, WHDH blamed the problem on a “power allocation” issue. The station said that the FCC assigned an insufficient power level to WHDH for its post-switch Channel 7, giving it a weaker signal than it had before last week’s switch from analog to all-digital broadcasts.
The station urged viewers to “re-scan” their non-cable digital TVs and converter boxes to Channel 42 until the issue is resolved.
WHDH’s woes follow what some say was an otherwise smooth transition for other local stations to all-digital broadcasts, though some stations in other major metro markets apparently are experiencing similar problems as Channel 7’s mess.
The nationwide conversion may have been a success for most stations. But thousands of viewers in the Greater Boston media market did call the FCC about their individual troubles over the past five days.
FCC spokesman Mark Wigfield said his agency has handled 2,195 calls since last Friday in the Boston area - with the majority having problems with their new digital converter boxes or not getting a specific channel’s signal.
The city of Boston’s Elderly Affairs Commission has helped more than 120 frustrated seniors to make the conversion since last Friday.
“It was impossible,” said Anna Zizza, 80, of Roslindale, of her attempts to make her digital TV work. She said a city worker came to her residence and did a “very good job” straightening out signals.
Since I’m one of those who shut off the idiot box some time ago, I remain unaffected.
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