High Definition Friday

Get ready for tomorrow at 12:30 PM when the switch from analog to digital TV becomes a reality. The people of Houston did the switch today and got a nice surprise: 40 extra channels without the need for cable or satellite. What surprise or surprises await the rest of us? Only the TV people know.


Viewers' options grow as TV stations complete switch

By David Barron Television Writer
June 11, 2009, 6:27PM

As Houston viewers wire up rabbit-ear antennas to noncable- or nonsatellite-equipped TVs in anticipation of today’s switch to digital transmission, they’ll find that their viewing options have multiplied like, well, rabbits.

When all of Houston’s full-powered TV stations complete the switch to digital, viewers who do not have cable or satellite can choose from more than 40 channel offerings, including the traditional over-the-air networks (ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, MyNetworkTV. NBC, PBS, Telemundo and Univision), plus religion, lifestyle and entertainment channels in English and Spanish.

Among Houston’s major network affiliates, KPRC (Channel 2) and KTRK (Channel 13) have been the most aggressive in offering additional digital channels to viewers.

In addition to its regular programming at Channel 2.1, KPRC also airs This TV, which features MGM movies and vintage TV shows, at 2.2 and the bilingual entertainment channel LATV at 2.3. Both also air on Comcast cable.

Channel 13 and its fellow Disney-owned-and-operated stations have made the biggest plunge into original programming with LiveWell HD Network, which airs at Channel 13.2 over the air and channel 314 on Comcast.

Several of Disney’s 10 owned-and-operated stations contribute programs to the network, including Channel 13’s Mirror, Mirror, hosted by Rebecca Spera, a former contributor on KHOU’s (Channel 11) Great Day Houston.

Spera, who was an intern with former Great Day host Whitney Casey at CNN and worked on the Anderson Cooper and Paula Zahn shows before moving three years ago to Houston, films one episode of Mirror, Mirror each week. Shows air in groups of three, with an older show dropping out of the rotation as a newer one comes on line.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a child, to do a show about self-esteem, beauty and relationships,” Spera said. “This is my perfect niche. I get to meet with men and women who tell me the tricks of the trade and then get to pass them on to viewers.”

Kim Nordt-Jackson, the show’s executive producer, said shows mix fashion tips with health-related updates and shopping suggestions.

A recent show included tips on proper poses to produce flattering photographs, ways to update makeup and fashion accessories, the 10 types of shoes every woman should own and suggestions on breaking shopaholic habits.

Henry Florsheim, Channel 13’s general manager, said the station will continue to schedule high school football games and other local programs on 13.2.

“This (LiveWell) project has come together since the first of the year, and we already have a significant amount of content up in only a short period of time,” he said. “I think it’s been a remarkable accomplishment.”

“This (LiveWell) project has come together since the first of the year, and we already have a significant amount of content up in only a short period of time,” he said. “I think it’s been a remarkable accomplishment.”

Some local stations, notably Fox’s KRIV (Channel 26) and KTXH (Channel 20), have not added extra channels to their digital signals. KETH (Channel 14) is at the other end of the spectrum with four religion-oriented channels in addition to its Trinity Broadcasting Network schedule.

There’s also an extra over-the-air digital channel called K10PY, owned by Mako Communications of Corpus Christi, broadcasting at Channel 10. K10PY has six subchannels, one of which is being leased by KHLM (Channel 43). Channel 10 also airs TheCoolTV music-video channel.



Video en Español... sort of.

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