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WTVP
Headlines
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Analog Shut-Off Update from WTVP #2
Wednesday, February
26th, 2009
Analog shut-off and transition to all digital broadcasting took
place as planned in Central Illinois on February 17. Only WHOI
has chosen to delay its transition until June. Following the
transition, WTVP staff and volunteers and personnel from WEEK,
WYZZ, and WMBD answered 416 calls throughout the day and into
the evening of February 18. Most of the calls dealt with
converter box set up and tuning antennas.
From the calls that came in, it was pretty obvious that viewers
were prepared for the transition, and mostly needed a little
help in getting set up. Very few callers said they were caught
unawares, and most everyone handled the changeover with typical
Midwestern grace and aplomb.
Calls continue to come in to WTVP, but as their quantity
decreases the complexity of issues increases. Most frustrating
are those calls that seem to have unsolvable issues such as
distance from the transmitters or defective converter boxes. For
help in aiming your antenna correctly, remember that most local
TV transmitters are located in East Peoria in a triangle formed
by I-74, I-474, and the Illinois River. WYZZ’s tower is in
Congerville closer to Bloomington-Normal than to Peoria.
As to converter boxes, each brand is different and the buttons
on their remote controls are all labeled differently. This makes
things very interesting for our ladies who are taking the calls
here. They have all gotten very adept at visualizing the
caller’s remote and labeling, and they have gotten very creative
in handling problems. I am pleased to say that they handle each
call with patience and grace, and they take it very personally
when they are unable to help a caller. They have certainly
earned at least Associate’s degrees in consumer electronics and
psychology, and I thank them for their service. I
f you are still having issues with your reception of channels
47.1, 47.2 or 47.3, please do call during normal business hours
Monday through Friday, and we will try to help.
For those of you who have made the transition successfully, how
are you enjoying all the new programs and great services no
available to you in digital? It does make a great difference,
doesn’t it?
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For further information contact Chet Tomczyk, WTVP President &
CEO (309) 677-4747
chet.tomczyk@wtvp.org
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