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
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...
To the contrary, 491 television stations had filed with the FCC that they intended to turn off their analog transmitters on February 17 regardless of any delay. Many were reportedly doing so because of the extra expense involved in powering and maintaining a second transmitter for four additional months. Yesterday, the FCC allowed 368 of them to pull the plug. The other 123 have been denied, as many were in markets where all of the commercial stations planned to go dark.
In the Champaign-Decatur-Springfield, Illinois market, WICD/WICS (ABC), WAND (NBC), WRSP/WCCU (Fox), WBUI (CW) and WEIU (PBS) will turn off their analog signals February 17 at midnight (actually the morning of February 18). WILL intends to continue an analog broadcast until further notice, as do WSEC (PBS), WCIA (CBS) and WCFN (My Network). In the nearby Peoria-Bloomington, Illinois market, only WHOI (ABC) will transmit in analog after the 17th. (WILL's coverage area does include the Bloomington-Normal area, and analog-only viewers there should still receive our signal for now.)
So, instead of a single, national termination date, there will now be more of a rolling shut-off. It's certainly possible that additional stations will announce their own early end dates prior to June 12, especially in cases in which aging transmitters fail.
At WILL, we'll do our best to stay on top of the changes and keep our viewers informed of our own plans. The most important thing to remember is that it's highly unlikely there'll be a second delay. If you haven't already taken the necessary steps to receive digital television, you still need to do so. The early shut-offs next Wednesday morning may well serve as a reminder.
Hangin' With Mr. Lincoln
I'm very enthusiastic about tonight's WILL-TV premiere of Lincoln: Prelude to the Presidency.
Oh, sure, I think that producers Alison Davis Wood and Tim Hartin did a great job on the documentary, and I personally learned a lot about the early career of the man who became our 16th President. But if I'm perhaps a bit too excited about it, it's because that's me on that horse!
As one of the hammier members of the WILL staff, I was thrilled to be asked by Alison and Tim to appear as one of Abraham Lincoln's fellow lawyers on Illinois' Eighth Judicial Circuit during the historical recreation sequences. And one of the first things I had to do was learn to ride a horse. Thankfully, I had a lot of help from the patient horse wranglers (not to mention a patient horse) and, after a few hours, I could at least manage to appear not entirely uncomfortable.
It was a great deal of fun to participate in the production, which took place in various historic sites throughout Central Illinois. We had a terrific Lincoln performer, Joe Woodard, who specializes in portraying the President "before the beard." (Only in Illinois can one make money as a specialty Lincoln!) In addition, several of the sequences involved dozens of actors and extras decked out in period clothing. There were camera dollies, grips and all of the things one typically expects to find on a movie shoot. When fresh out of college I spent a year in Hollywood, and what I saw last year during the production of Prelude to the Presidency looked very familiar.
I realize that you won't likely be watching the show for the same reasons as I, but I think you'll find it worth your time. And keep an eye out for that beardy, bald lawyer in the background. I think he could become a star!
The Results Are In!
Chef! was the winner of last Saturday's 10th annual Great Britcom Vote. Fifty-two viewers called in to put Lenny Henry's Gareth Blackstock at the top of the heap. As for the other candidates...
To the Manor Born was second with 38 votes. Good Neighbors and Blackadder were in a virtual tie with 27 and 26 votes, respectively. And new entrant One Foot in the Grave was last with a respectable 20 votes.
Should our budget allow, we will add Chef! to our lineup sometime during our next fiscal year.
Thanks to everyone who participated in Great Britcom Vote X, especially those 52 viewers who followed up their votes with a pledge of financial support. We received $7,195 in pledges that evening!
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