After reading the posts about the availability of the MHz network in the DC area, I know I would love to have it hear in the Oklahoma City Area. However even with it I would not give up shotwave. Steve Cross OKC,OK
-----Original Message----- >From: Joe Buch <[email protected]> >Sent: Jun 22, 2009 4:03 PM >To: SW Programs <[email protected]> >Subject: [Swprograms] Shortwave - Who Needs It > > >The following Washington Post article shows how Washinton DC now gets ten >channels of foreign TV thanks to the MHz network and the technology of digital >multiplexing. Comcast is picking up all of these channels for relay to their >customers. > >By Kim Hart >Monday, June 22, 2009 > >The switch to digital TV has caused static and headaches for thousands of >viewers in the Washington region. But for one local station, the transition >has been something of a revival. > >MHz Networks, based in Falls Church, has carved out a niche for international >programming over the past 15 years, showing Russian newscasts, Nigerian >documentaries and Italian mysteries, to name a few of its offerings. To build >its digital antenna and boost the signal's power, MHz shut off analog to its >two channels in September -- the first station in the country to do so -- >leaving many viewers who were not yet equipped to receive digital signals >believing it had simply disappeared. But on June 12, when viewers hooked up >converter boxes and scanned for digital stations, MHz came through at full >strength. > >"We got calls from people all over saying, 'You're back!' " said chief >executive Frederick Thomas, who started working at the public television >station 15 years ago as a programming manager. > >MHz Networks is owned by Richmond-based Commonwealth Public Broadcasting and, >through affiliate agreements with broadcasters and cable and satellite >companies, reaches 27 million households across the country. > >But viewers in the Washington region, and some in Baltimore, now get to watch >10 channels over the air free of charge. (The digital transition gave the >network eight extra channels to broadcast additional foreign content.) > > >Five channels, including programs from the Middle East, China and Japan, are >aired from a 698-foot tower in Falls Church, while the remaining five channels >with programs from Vietnam, France and South Africa are aired from a tower in >Prince William County. (Viewers have to point their antennas in that direction >to receive the channels.) > >When Thomas arrived at the station in 1993, he said it was airing a hodgepodge >of programs on a random schedule. He saw the opportunity to cater to the >growing diversity of Washington and, starting with the showing of 10 foreign >films, slowly acquired the rights to air programs from foreign news services. >He said that with an eye on numbers from the 1990 Census, he tried to air >content that would appeal to the largest ethnic groups in the region. > >"I knew there was this international underbelly to the nation's capital," he >said. > >Now that MHz has mastered digital broadcasts, it's branching into new >territories. Starting next month, it will begin airing mobile video broadcasts >as part of a larger pilot project by the Open Mobile Video Coalition, which >will also provide video for the major network affiliates in the area, Ion >Media and Howard University's public television station. Mobile video, Thomas >said, takes advantage of a "big, open-air broadband pipe -- it's wicked cool." > >But there's a problem: Handsets capable of receiving the new mobile video >broadcasts aren't yet available to consumers. Broadcasters are testing the >service so it will be ready when devices become available next year. > >Ion Media, which is taking part in the mobile video trials and started airing >its mobile content recently, said it has also benefited from the digital >transition. > >The network has gained 2.4 million more viewers in the Washington region, >bringing its projected audience to nearly 7 million, according to the Federal >Communications Commission. > >Ion airs four stations in the region, and moved its antenna from a tower in >Fairfax to a taller tower in Northwest D.C. to boost reception, said John >Lawson, executive vice president of policy and strategic initiatives. >Headquartered in Florida, Ion has offices in Arlington and Fairfax. The >network is also in talks with BET founder Robert L. Johnson to create a >channel primarily geared toward African American audiences, called Urban TV. > >While Ion's mobile content is available on the airwaves now, area consumers >won't get to try it out until January, when prototype devices will be made >available for the trial. The Open Mobile Video Coalition has chosen to have >its only service trial in Washington, giving local early adopters a sneak >peak. > >Lawson said he tested a prototype device downtown this week. "I got a strong >signal on Capitol Hill," he said. "But I had some challenges around the White >House." > >Kim Hart writes about Washington's technology scene every Monday. Contact her >at [email protected]. > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Swprograms mailing list >[email protected] >http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/swprograms > >To unsubscribe: Send an E-mail to >[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe, or visit the URL >shown above. > ________________________________________ PeoplePC Online A better way to Internet http://www.peoplepc.com _______________________________________________ Swprograms mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/swprograms To unsubscribe: Send an E-mail to [email protected]?subject=unsubscribe, or visit the URL shown above.
