Television transmission is undergoing a big change. On February 17, 2009 analog broadcasting will come to an end. This is an important date because this change will affect every person who receives a television signal.

At the present time you can see WQPT on our standard analog signal Channel 24 or Mediacom Channel 10 (in most areas). Additionally, WQPT brings you high definition programming on Channel 23 or Mediacom Channel 710.

The Federal Communications Commission has mandated that all analog broadcast television, which is the kind of broadcasting that has been around since television began, will be discontinued beginning February 17, 2009. That means that the television set you have will be able to receive an analog signal until February 16, 2009. The following information is provided to help you make the change from analog to digital.

Will you need a converter box? You won't have to purchase a converter box if your televisions are connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service. If however, you get your signal from an antenna or "rabbit ears" AND your current television doesn't have a digital tuner built into it, the TV Converter Box Coupon Program may be available for you.

What is the difference between analog and digital television (DTV)?
Analog television service is the traditional TV system and has been the standard broadcast technology since the inception of television

Digital television (DTV) is the newest broadcasting technology. It allows the transmission of pictures with higher resolution for better picture and sound quality. There are two main types of digital signals – standard definition (SDTV) and high definition (HDTV). "Standard definition" digital TV pictures are a big improvement over analog signals but do not provide the full impact of HDTV.

What is high definition TV (HDTV)? How is it different from analog television and SDTV?
HDTV provides high resolution programming and uses a “widescreen aspect ratio.” “Aspect ratio” is a comparison of screen width to screen height. For an Analog television the screen is 4 units wide by 3 units high. HDTV is similar in look to a movie theater screen, with a 16 by 9 aspect ratio.

Why are we switching to DTV?
The decision to convert from analog to digital broadcasting was made by the Federal Communications Commission. Every television broadcaster in the United States, both commercial television stations and public television stations, were required to make the conversion by May 2005. WQPT was the first broadcaster to begin broadcasting in digital in the Quad Cities. This change will free up parts of the broadcast airwaves so that they can be used for other services like public safety services (for example, police, fire departments, and rescue squads).

Digital TV provides not only much better video and audio quality, but it also multiplies the number of channels that one station can transmit to the public. For instance, WQPT is now broadcasting two digital signals and we are evaluating other channels that we may add to our lineup.

Will I need a new television?
After Feb. 17, 2009 your current TV will not be obsolete, however you will need a converter box to receive broadcast DTV signals. If you use your analog set with cable or satellite, it will continue to work as it always has. Even with a converter box, however, your current analog television will not be capable of displaying the full picture quality of DTV. To enjoy the full picture quality, you must have a DTV set. Subscribers to cable or satellite services should contact their providers regarding converter boxes. For information about the federal government’s plan to assist viewers in acquiring converter boxes, go to: http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#coupon.

If you do not have cable or satellite, DTV reception will require the same type of signal reception equipment that currently works to provide good quality reception for analog TV signals. If you currently need a roof-top antenna to receive analog television, the same antenna will be needed to receive DTV.

Additions and Updates
WQPT will keep members and others up to date on any changes as the conversion date becomes closer. We invite you to sign-up for our online newsletter (see link below), and we'll send you information about this and other important topics.