KAKM ENDS ANALOG BROADCASTS TONIGHT (June 12)

Thu, June 11, 2009

Are you ready for DTV?

For many viewers — those using cable or satellite TV services — no change will be needed, but for anyone viewing TV over the public airwaves (via antenna), you must make the switch to DTV if you want to continue to see TV in the future.

LOCAL WALK-IN CENTERS

These centers will be open until June 21 to answer questions and help with specific issues regarding your successful transition to DTV.

Northway Mall

3101 Penland Parkway

Anchorage, AK 99508

M-F: 12pm – 8pm Sat: 10pm – 6pm Sun: 12pm – 6pm

Anchorage 5th Avenue

320 West 5th Avenue, Suite 219

Anchorage, AK 99501

M-F: 12pm – 8pm Sat: 12pm – 8pm Sun: 11pm – 6pm

About the DTV transition delay

Thu, February 5, 2009

converterbox You may have heard this week that Congress passed a bill pushing the mandatory shutdown of analog TV broadcasting from February 17 back to June 12, 2009. Full-power TV broadcasters across the country — like KAKM here in Anchorage — must now turn off their analog TV transmitters no later than June 12. However, many broadcasters may still shutdown their analog service on February 17, as has been planned since 2005. Others may choose to shutdown analog TV sometime between February 17 and June 12.

As of this writing, the bill is awaiting a signature from the President to become law (Obama has said he will sign the bill). Then the FCC must issue new rules around the law, instructing TV broadcasters on what to do. Most broadcasters will additionally wait for advice from our media lawyers to ensure our actions are in compliance with FCC rules and the new law. All those steps are likely to be completed this week or by early next week.

What happens next?

For now, KAKM is continuing to air all required announcements about the February 17, 2009 analog TV shutdown date. We are working to replace these notices with new ones that reference the June 12, 2009 date instead. By law, we will continue to air no less than 180 seconds of DTV transition education every single day until the analog shutdown is completed. We hope to have the on-air spots replaced by early next week.

NOTE: Other stations in the Anchorage market may shutdown their analog services on February 17, despite the deadline extension. You may want to check with each station to confirm whether they are changing on Feb 17.

For the record, KAKM Channel 7 already broadcasts a full-power Digital TV signal, so if you have a converter box or a DTV tuner in your television — along with an antenna appropriate to your location — you can immediately tune in KAKM’s DTV signal from our transmitter about 11 miles north of downtown Anchorage.

KAKM currently expects to continue broadcasting our analog TV signal up to the June 12 deadline. That may change, based on conversations with other stations in the Anchorage market and with our viewers. Whatever the final date, however, we hope you’re immediately taking steps to prepare for the analog shutdown, if you’re not already prepared.

More news and updates as we have them.

DTV converter box coupon program now on wait list

Mon, January 5, 2009

Good news / bad news on the DTV converter box coupon program…

The NTIA announced today that their DTV converter box coupon program has been wildly successful — so much so that they’ve run out of coupon funding. They may acquire additional funding from Congress in the coming weeks, but for the moment, all new DTV converter box coupon applicants (as of January 4, 2009) are being wait-listed for fulfillment either sometime in the future or perhaps never. Here’s what the NTIA has to say for those of you still preparing for the DTV conversion at home:

Consumers who have not taken action or who have applied and been placed on the waiting list are encouraged to take action to ensure at least one TV in their home is ready for the transition on February 17, 2009. Consumers can:

Purchase a converter box without a coupon

Purchase a TV with a digital tuner

Subscribe to cable, satellite or another pay service

Attached is a new brochure which describes the protocol for the Coupon waiting list.

If you do call for a DTV converter box coupon now, a reference number is being given — be sure to keep that number as it will allow you to go online to check the status of coupon delivery. As expired coupons are made available, new coupons will be mailed. NTIA estimates an additional 6 million coupons may be sent once older coupons (already sent) expire. So there’s still hope if you apply today.

Converter boxes are available online from Amazon.com as well as other outlets. Plus, local electronics retailers in Alaska often have DTV converter boxes in stock, too. Of course, if you’re in the market for a new TV anyway, it’s probably best to just buy one from a reseller right here in Alaska — especially if it has a large screen or if you need expert installation help.

NOTE: The DTV conversion will happen for KAKM viewers that watch us via over-the-air (antenna) signals broadcast from our primary transmitter, situated about 11 miles north of downtown Anchorage, on February 17. Viewers on the Kenai Peninsula watching KAKM via antenna will not see digital signals from KAKM until sometime later in 2009.

Questions? Feel free to post them here as comments or Contact Us.

Alaska Weather Extras: July

Tue, July 1, 2008

Here is a list of ALASKA WEATHER segments and links for July:

Senator Stevens, ABA to Host DTV Workshop

Wed, May 28, 2008

Senator Stevens and the Alaska Broadcasters Association (ABA) will host a DTV workshop in Anchorage on May 29, 2008. Speakers from the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunication and Information Administration will be in attendance.

WHO: Senator Ted Stevens, Alaska Broadcasters Association, representatives from the FCC and from NTIA
WHAT: Public workshop to answer questions and address concerns regarding upcoming DTV transition
WHEN: Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Loussac Library, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, Alaska

For more information on the DTV transition, visit Senator Stevens website.

Read the full press release.

Visit the DTV program’s website at http://www.dtv2009.gov

DTV Converter Box Coupon Program Begins January 1

Thu, December 20, 2007

Between Jan. 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, all US households are eligible to request up to two free coupons from the U.S. Department of Commerce, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes. While the coupons aren’t expected to be issued until program-eligible boxes are available in local markets, consumers can sign up beginning January 1, 2008 by calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009) or visiting at www.dtv.gov.
READ MORE →

KAKM Broadcasts New Public Service Channel

Thu, October 18, 2007

In partnership with Juneau public television station KTOO, KAKM Channel 7 is broadcasting Gavel to Gavel Alaska coverage of the special session of the Alaska Legislature beginning today (Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007).

The broadcast is part of KAKM’s digital multi-cast service, so viewers will need a digital television with tuner to receive the signal over-the-air on KAKM DT 7.3.

The coverage also is available to cable viewers from KTOO on 37 cable systems statewide, including all of the GCI Cable systems, as well as on satellite TV’s Dish Network and online at www.ktoo.org/gavel.
READ MORE →