(DURHAM, April 25, 2007) - New Hampshire Public Television's translator atop Moose Mountain (call letters W15BK) will be replaced with a digital transmitter by July 1st, according to Brian Shepperd, NHPTV Director of Technology. The broadcast antenna suffered significant damage during the February 14th snowstorm. In assessing how to repair or replace the antenna, which transmits Channel 15 to the Hanover-Dartmouth area, NHPTV concluded that with the federal government mandated conversion from analog to digital transmission in February 2009, replacing the antenna with a digital signal was an opportunity to better serve the Hanover-Dartmouth area. Because of the age of the current equipment, repairing or replacing the antenna would not have assured reliable service to the area, Shepperd said. "Instead of broadcasting via Channel 15, the new digital transmitter will broadcast on Channel 50. It will carry the digital version of NHPTV's traditional analog programming as well as a separate program channel of PBS high-definition (HDTV) programs," noted Shepperd. "We greatly regret any inconvenience to viewers who received our signal from the Moose Mountain translator via the W15BK antenna, and who no longer can watch NHPTV. Viewers in the Hanover area who receive NHPTV's signal from Comcast (Adelphia) are not affected by the antenna failure because the cable signal comes from NHPTV's transmitter in Deerfield," Shepperd said. At this time, television viewers in the Hanover area who wish to watch NHPTV have these options:· Subscribe to a cable, satellite or telecommunications service provider (e.g., Comcast, whose basic / lowest tier service is approximately $11/month). · Purchase a digital-to-analog "set-top box" that plugs into an existing television. These boxes currently cost approximately $200 - $300; starting January 1, 2008, they will cost between $50 - 70 with a special coupon from the federal government. Once the digital transmitter is installed on Moose Mountain in July, viewers with a standard analog TV and the "set-top box" will be able to view NHPTV's analog and HDTV programming. · Purchase a new television set with a built-in digital tuner. On February 17, 2009, all full-power analog television stations must shut down and transmit only in the new digital format, per Congressional mandate. The digital transmission is a more efficient technology, allowing broadcasters to deliver an improved television picture and sound. As a result of the analog-to-digital conversion in 2009, parts (bands) of the broadcast spectrum no longer needed will be returned to the federal government and used by public safety agencies so they can communicate more effectively during emergencies. Some of the spectrum will be auctioned off to wireless services, with the proceeds going to the U.S. Treasury.
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