TV Worth Blogging
by David Thiel, Program Director for WILL-TV
An insider's view of public television programming and the issues that help determine what and how you watch
Update: Comcast in Bloomington
This morning, we began to receive calls from Comcast cable customers in the Bloomington, IL area who reported that they were no longer able to receive WILL-TV. We've investigated the situation, and here's what we know:
WILL-TV no longer appears on the analog tier of Comcast's service in and around Bloomington/Normal. We are still available to Comcast customers who receive digital service, typically through a set-top box. According to Comcast's own estimate, this change currently affects about 20% of their subscribers, those who have not yet upgraded to digital cable.
To continue to receive WILL-TV, those customers will need to exercise one of two options:
1) Upgrade to digital cable. According to a Comcast spokesperson, they will be offering free installation of set-top boxes, and no additional charge for the first 12 months. Please contact your local Comcast office for more information.
2) Receive our free, over-the-air signal. Our digital broadcast offers crystal-clear HD programs (when available) and three different channels. You may need a digital converter box and/or a better antenna. Read our DTV FAQ for more information.
So, why the change? Read on...
Read more on "Update: Comcast in Bloomington"
Public TV Is Tops With Mr. Peabody
The 2009 Peabody Awards for excellence in electronic media were announced on April 1 and PBS programs received seven, more than any other media outlet.
Among the recipients was the long-running Friday night series Washington Week with Gwen Ifill. It was cited as "the political talk show that sets the standard for the genre."
More winners after the jump!
Read more on "Public TV Is Tops With Mr. Peabody"
End Of An Analog Era
WILL-TV will be shutting down its analog transmitter for the final time on Tuesday, March 31 at 6:00 am. That's about six weeks later than the original national analog TV shut-off date of February 17, but about ten weeks shy of June 12, the new drop-dead date selected by Congress last month.
Of course, we're not going anywhere. WILL will continue to broadcast a digital signal offering high-definition programming and multiple channels.
We believe that the vast majority of our viewers are capable of receiving that signal, but if you are not, you'll need to take action sooner rather than later to guarantee uninterrupted service.
Read more on "End Of An Analog Era"
If You Tried To Tune In Sunday...
All of WILL's stations were knocked off the air from 2:30 pm CDT until approximately 8:45 pm due to a power outage that affected most of the University of Illinois campus. Here at Campbell Hall, about two dozen volunteers and crew assembled for the first night of our March fundraiser waited patiently for the power to resume until we finally sent them home.
If you tried to tune in to WILL-TV (digital 12.1 or analog) yesterday, here's when to catch the shows that you missed:
Read more on "If You Tried To Tune In Sunday..."
Vintner of the "Summer Wine"
Next Tuesday, WILL's viewers and listeners will have the opportunity to visit with the producer and director of the long-running British comedy Last of the Summer Wine when Alan J.W. Bell visits our studios in Urbana. How he comes to be here is an unusual story that speaks to the connections that WILL's programming makes with members of our audience.
Read more on "Vintner of the "Summer Wine""
Resetting the Countdown Clock
On Wednesday, President Obama signed into law a delay to the previously announced analog television shut-off "hard" date. Instead of February 17, all U.S. TV broadcasters are now mandated to turn off their analog transmitters on June 12. This change was made in response to concerns over the long waiting list for digital converter box coupons, as well as surveys which suggest that millions of Americans are not yet ready for the switch.
However that doesn't mean that all broadcasters will be waiting those extra four months...
