Digital Television Conversion
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February 17, 2009...
Are you ready for the DTV conversion?
TV6 is trying to make the transition as simple as possible for our viewers.
Below we've provided all of the
information to keep you informed.
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Click here to ask our expert.
Digital Deadline - Part 1
Digital Deadline - Part 2
Digital Deadline - Part 3
Digital Deadline - Part 4
Digital Deadline - Part 5
TV6 going off the air...
| Where to point your antenna to find the best signal for your specific location. |
- HDTV, Channel 35
- Charter HDTV, Channel 785
- Charter, TV6 Weather, Channel 306
- Off air, channel 6
- Off air, channel 7 (City of Marquette)
- Off air, channel 14 (City of Escanaba)
- Charter Cable, channel 6
- Negaunee Cable, channel 6
- FM Radio, channel 87.7
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Digital Television (DTV)?
Simply put, digital is the future of television. Even with all the advancements in television technology that have taken place since its beginning in the 1930’s, television has been broadcast in essentially the same way. Television is and has always been an analog format which has proven to have limitations in consistency and quality. DTV on the other hand will allow broadcasters to offer television with consistent high resolution images and CD quality sound. Most analog television broadcast stations transmit a picture that contains 480 vertical interlaced lines with 340 horizontal pixels per line. While DTV sends pictures that can contain 1080 vertical interlaced lines with 1920 horizontal pixels per line. This dramatic increase in picture resolution provides a much higher quality image and sound that is transmitted with very little loss in quality. DTV technology can also be used to transmit large amounts of other data into the home, which may be accessible by using your computer or television set.
Why did TV6 go digital?
The Federal Communications Commission has mandated that all analog television licensees convert from analog to digital formats. The final date for the complete conversion will be February 17, 2009. All stations must end their analog signal by this time.
What is High Definition Television (HDTV)?
Digital television refers to the way pictures are transmitted while High Definition Television refers to a higher resolution format programs can be delivered within. Presently analog and digital programs are offered in a 4:3 aspect ratio which means the picture is four units wide for every three units high, almost square. HDTV combines higher resolution via many more lines of resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This is often compared to the aspect ratio you would find in your local movie theater.
How can I receive WLUC-DTV at home?
In order to receive TV6’s digital signal, Upper Michigan viewers need to either purchase a digital receiver(TV) or converter box and connect it to their analog TV set(s). Since most U.P. analog stations have been VHF only (3, 5, 6, 10, 13) some may also need to purchase an antenna capable of receiving both UHF and VHF since some U.P. DTV signals will be UHF. (3-48, 5-5, 6-35, 10-10, and 13-33, but will be changing back to 13 post transition) If you’ve purchased a new TV set recently, it may already have a digital tuner (ATSC) within it, thereby negating the need for any converters or additional DTV receivers. Once the equipment is installed, viewers’ sets will either automatically scan and tune in WLUC-DTV or they will need to tune to DTV channel 35. Most will find channel 35 and show the DTV channel as 6.1, which is what we’ve told the tuners to do to help viewers know that they’ve found us.
Are local cable companies providing TV6 in digital?
Presently Charter Cable places our analog broadcast on channel 6 and our digital broadcast, and HD programming as NBC provides it to us, on channel 785 on their HD Tier. Negaunee Cable has been receiving our digital broadcast and providing it in analog form to their customers on channel 6 due to the superior resolution our digital broadcast provides. We are not aware of the future plans of these or any other local cable companies regarding how, when, or where they will provide TV6 in DTV/HDTV on their systems after 2/09.
Are satellite dish companies providing TV6 in digital?
Satellite dish programming providers have chosen not to provide local analog and digital channels to their customers in the U.P. They have provided analog “local into local” service in almost the entire country and have already started rolling out their Digital/HD “local into local” program within those same other markets. TV6 has tried for many years to make Local on the dishes a reality, but without success.
What programming does TV6 provide in digital?
All of TV6’s programming is available on our digital broadcast. Any programming that is gathered or produced in analog format, whether from TV6 or NBC, it is automatically up-converted into digital format for broadcast. In addition, all HD programming NBC provides to TV6 is broadcast over our digital airwaves as well. Visit NBC’s website via the link on the TV6 homepage to get a listing of NBC programs broadcast in HDTV.
What geographic area does TV6’s new digital signal cover?
If you can presently receive a good off-air signal you should be able to receive our digital signal as well (provided you have the above mentioned hardware.) For the time being, WLUC-DTV is being broadcast at 63,000 watts on digital channel 35. Reception will improve in many places when we increase our power in 2009 by more than 30%.
Can I still receive TV6’s analog signal over the air?
Yes. TV6 will continue to broadcast in analog and digital until the final conversion date at which point, the signal will switch to digital only.
Will I be able to see local programs like the TV6 News in digital?
Our news and other local programming is currently analog that is upconverted to a digital format that can be broadcast over our digital airwaves. Viewers can receive us in digital over the air and over certain well equipped cable company systems. In the future it may be full digital and/or HD from gathering to broadcast, but not currently.
Is it true DTV will allow stations to broadcast more than one program simultaneously?
Yes. That is one of the exciting benefits about DTV. The number of programs a station can send on one digital channel depends on the level of picture resolution desired for each program. Broadcasters currently can send one program per channel over analog. With digital transmission, broadcasters can send multiple programs within the single digital channel and mix HD and SD(Standard Definition) programs in the process. This is called “multicasting”. Currently TV6 broadcasts its main programming as well as a secondary channel, NBCWeatherPlus.
Will low power repeaters provide a digital signal? Those viewers that receive TV6 over the air using our low power repeaters, channel 7 in Marquette and channel 14 in the Escanaba area, will be able to continue to receive us over the air after the February 17th, 2009 deadline. The switchover date for these systems has not yet been decided/mandated.
 For more information visit www.dtvanswers.com.
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