KETV Tower Topples (Omaha)

theomahachannel.com ^

[chance33_98]

KETV Tower Topples

Tower Was Being Upgraded To HDTV

Shiloh Woolman, Managing Editor

POSTED: 12:54 a.m. CDT July 5, 2003 UPDATED: 4:13 p.m. CDT July 5, 2003

OMAHA, Neb. -- KETV's main broadcast antenna fell to the ground Friday. It isn't yet clear what caused the fall.

The tower, which stands more than 1,200 feet high, is located at 72nd and Crown Point. It toppled into the field surrounding it. Some neighbors heard the screech of metal on metal as it fell, but no one was injured.

Crews have been working to install HDTV technology to the tower since May 30. The new TUV-32GTH antenna is meant to replace the RCA TW-15. The TUV-32GTH is a new broadcasting technology introduced last year.

Losing the tower means KETV will be broadcasting an analog signal from its auxiliary tower near the station at 27th and Douglas streets and on cable. This tower is 1/2 the height of the tower at 72nd and Crown Point, and you may experience reception problems during this period. If you do, try to re-aim your receive antenna toward downtown Omaha to receive a better signal during this period. As always, refer this to qualified service personnel.

KETV news director Rose Ann Shannon said Friday night it is not yet clear how much the tower collapse will set back the HDTV conversion, or how long it will take to clear debris and rebuild.

Look for more updates on KETV and TheOmahaChannel.com.

[timestax]

President Bush did it!

[1rudeboy]

I half-expected Willie Green to post this sort of news.

[chance33_98]

You know how to hurt a guy don't ya? :)

[1rudeboy]

I'm just havin' some fun. I'm thinking (hoping) he will understand.

[Redcloak]

It isn't yet clear what caused the fall.

My guess would be gravity.

[1rudeboy]

Amazing. You simply must share with us the method you came to your conclusion. LOL

[11B3]

Entropy is the real cause of the crash.

[11B3]

Entropy is the real cause of the crash.

[11B3]

Entropy is the real cause of the crash.

[Keith in Iowa]

Wow - a reply so nice, it posted thrice... :)

[ARCADIA]

It is a safe bet that somewhere right now there is an engineer getting snot choke out of them by a very irate project manager.

[Fresh Wind]

Probably the same project manager that ignored the engineer who told them the tower was in bad shape and ready to come down.

[Consort]

Entropy is the real cause of the crash.

Atrophy is the probable cause of the crash.

[Hank Rearden]

I love this part:

try to re-aim your receive antenna toward downtown Omaha to receive a better signal during this period. As always, refer this to qualified service personnel.

Yeah, that's the ticket; get some union goon to come over and diddle your rabbit ears.

[GailA]

Sounds like they didn't get the tension on the guy wires right. Or one of them let go.

[eternity]

I feel bad if Cingular had an uplink on that antenna. What are those poor deer going to do with those antennas stuck on their heads?

[Publius6961]

Or one of them let go.

Engineers in Nebraska never heard of Factor of Safety or redundancy?

[Dubh_Ghlase]

Saw some file of a 2,000' tower in NC (Raleigh area) a few years back that got covered with a thick layer of ice after a freak storm. As the sun came up, it began to melt the East side of the tower. Huge blocks fell off the one side, then the stress became so great the tower just twisted and fell. It was quite an amazing thing to see. A lot of force pent up in a structure like that...