CBS affiliate transmitting in high definition

Posted by admin on December 15th, 2009

CORPUS CHRISTI — The local CBS affiliate is broadcasting in high definition via antenna and satellite, and is expected to do so through Time Warner Cable in time for the Super Bowl.

KZTV Channel 10 began broadcasting in HD on Tuesday, the last local station to do so.

The new signal now can be received by antenna and satellite receivers, although the HD-quality signal won’t be available on cable quite yet.

Staff with local NBC affiliate KRIS, owned by Cordillera Communications, which purchased KZTV’s assets in August, say the change in video quality will be noticeably different for KZTV viewers.

“KZTV is running at full high-definition power and will be available for viewing on all receivers and cable providers,” said Tim Noble, KRIS general manager.

Staff with Time Warner Cable confirmed that the stations are finalizing talks to bring KZTV’s HD signal to Time Warner viewers, a large share of the market.

“Our corporate officers are working with KZTV right now so we can carry the HD signal for the station,” said Vicki Triplett, spokeswoman for Time Warner Cable.

The deal is expected to be ready in time for the Super Bowl Feb. 7.

KEDT, the PBS affiliate, was the first local station to upgrade to HD in 2003.

Don Dunlap, president and general manager of KEDT, said the overhaul required for a local network to produce a high-definition signal requires replacing and updating several pieces of expensive equipment.

In order to go hi-def, a station would need to install a new transmitter, new antennas and update its broadcasting tower, Dunlap said, as well as replace equipment in the studio to handle the improved quality.

“You’re basically replacing a 50-year-old system,” Dunlap said. “Very few businesses exist with technology that old.”

Staff with Cordillera Communications say the upgrade is worth the cost — about $3 million, said Andrew Suk, director of broadcast engineering for Cordillera Communications.

In addition to upgrading the antennas, the station replaced the master controls and routing systems to handle the high-definition signal, he said.

“This is something that was really important for us to do,” Suk said. “This will now bring all CBS broadcasts in HD to Corpus Christi and the outlying areas. I got a call from a guy in Port Aransas the other day who said it looks great.”

Since June 12, stations nationwide have been broadcasting exclusively in a digital format, requiring some viewers to buy digital converters for older television sets.

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