No Primetime HD Olympics in Indianapolis

[TC]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

In Indianapolis, WTHR is not showing the HD signal during primetime.
According to the station, their contract requires them to upconvert the
low-def signal. Is that the case everyplace? I can't believe with all the
hyping NBC did of their HD coverage they won't allow affiliates to transmit
it during primetime.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

> In Indianapolis, WTHR is not showing the HD signal during primetime.
> According to the station, their contract requires them to upconvert the
> low-def signal. Is that the case everyplace? I can't believe with all the
> hyping NBC did of their HD coverage they won't allow affiliates to transmit
> it during primetime.

There used to be an FCC-requirement that stated "ATSC broadcasters must
duplicate their 'analog(NTSC)' programming on the ATSC channel at least
75% of the time."

That requirement was lifted earlier this month. And on top of that, the
NBC network specifically asked for and received permission (from the
FCC) to do 24-hour (separate feed) HDTV coverage for the duration of the
Olympics. (The Olympics are a one-time special-event.)

There would have been no point for NBC to produce a separate HDTV-feed
if they couldn't broadcast it.

Here in Los Angeles, KNBC is broadcasting the Olympics-HD feed pretty
much the whole day (including primetime.)

But none of this specifically deals with *your* station (WTHR.) WTHR
may have contractual obligations that prevent them from broadcasting the
Olympics HDTV feed during primetime.