By Fred Delkin

 If you’re old enough to remember when all television was broadcast and received in black and white, you’ll be better prepared for the next sea change in TV viewing, with Portland one of three U.S. markets pioneering the new High Definition Television (HDTV) broadcast technology.  A joint promotion campaign by the National Association of Broadcasters and the Consumer Electronics Association has designated the Rose City as a “Digital TV Zone” in conjunction with Indianapolis and Houston.

This means local direct broadcast stations are offering programs aired in the new format, which improves both sight and sound to an extent similar to the difference between black & white and color.  Home viewers come on board with purchase of an HDTV set, a somewhat pricey decision ($1,200 and up), but one eased by the fact that “big screen” and “home theatre” viewing are becoming common, and you might as well choose HDTV when upgrading (HDTV sets come in screen sizes 27” and larger).  After seeing and hearing the advantage over regular “analog” transmission, we tend to agree with the HDTV campaign slogan: “It’s like being there!”  The visual clarity is equal to any movie theatre, and unlike the latter venue, you can control the sound to your ears’ comfort level.

Programming free, but limited

The picture’s great, the sound is superb, and the signal is free, but at present there are some distinct limitations to an HDTV experience.  Your HDTV set uses an antenna to receive a local signal, so you’re back to the old rabbit ears syndrome in that where you live will determine how strong and pure a signal you enjoy.  And program choices are quite limited at present.  With the exception of daytime soap operas on CBS and certain very popular special events such as the Olympics and NCAA basketball, only the highest rated prime time shows are currently being delivered via HDTV (in April, for instance, ABC offers 11 shows per week plus a trio of James Bond movies, CBS has 18 evening shows plus four movies and NBC is airing only the Leno show nightly.  Fox network offered the Super Bowl in high definition, plus a pair of prime time series, while PBS is aboard with certain historical and nature programs.

Industry spokespeople agree that a reliable consumer program guide, printed or on-screen, is currently lacking and a major need.  However, Ron Longinotti, general manager of Portland’s KGW-TV, points out that consumers seem diligent about ferreting out HDTV programming availability…must be the size of the set investment!

Oregon cable customers won’t be likely to pull the plug on their service and will continue to pay a monthly fee for all those other channels.  There’s light at the end of the cable digital reception tunnel, however.  Cable industry spokesman Robert Sachs told a March National Association of Broadcasters meeting his group was preparing “to stimulate carriage of high-definition TV signals.”  Cable operators are offering limited HDVD broadcasts in “about 50 markets,” according to Sachs.  “We don’t want to be seen as an obstacle to the DTV transition,” he adds.  

Change in tone 

This is a definite change in tone from the cable industry, which until now has acted as if it wished HDTV would just go away, and indicates that cable providers now realize a consumer switch to high definition is inevitable.  Two thirds of Americans receive their television via cable subscription.  An Oregon cable ‘caster, Paul Allen’s Action Sports (ASCN) is an HDTV cable pioneer whose current programming is very limited.  An Allen rival, Dallas pro basketball owner Mark Cuban, is also pioneering cable HDTV with a much broader offering.

We hasten to point out that digital cable service, currently heavily advertised by local providers, is not the same as digital television.  The latter provides a far superior audio and visual experience.  An HDTV set plugged into a digital cable set-top box will only receive an analog signal.  Today’s analog televisions won’t become obsolete until HDTV origination becomes more universal.  Your current TV will continue to work with cable, satellite, VCRs and DVD players.  An HDTV set partially enhances current cable or satellite pickups, as well as DVD material.

The Federal Communications Commission is an HDTV ally, having mandated that May 2002 is a deadline for direct broadcast stations to begin airing an HDTV signal, thus providing this reception to an estimated 95 percent of U.S. TV households.  What goes out on that signal will be limited for some time to come.

Oregonians can experience HDTV demonstrations at major retailers and see HDTV broadcasts at three Portland public sites: City Hall lobby, Oregon History Center lobby and the Rose Garden Arena concourse.

From the net: The Return of Rabbit Ears  |  HDTV's Chicken, Egg Dilemma   (Wired News)

© 2002 Oregon Magazine