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Cap Connections
DownloadCTV broadcasts high definition digital!
High definition digital, standard digital, analog… do you need to go TV shopping or not?
Cooperative Television of Southern Minnesota (CTV). CTV, a subsidiary of Federated Rural Electric in Jackson and three other electric co-ops, is broadcasting three networks in high-definition digital!
· High-definition is a premium form of digital, offering the greatest detail. Look for 1080 or 720 resolution.
· Digital consists of pixels, providing clearer resolution and sharper detail on a different frequency. It is similar to cell phones moving from analog to digital.
· Analog consists of horizontal lines on a picture screen (your typical TV). TV broadcast stations will broadcast in analog until February 17, 2009. However, CTV will continue broadcasting its analog lineup.
Digital TV or set top box channels from CTV on all three towers (Godahl, Jackson and Frost):
ABC 5-1, 5-2
NBC 11-1, 11-2
FOX 9-1
“The type of TV needed depends on which type of signal you have,” stated Richard Burud, Federated’s general manager. “Right now CTV rebroadcasts analog signals on its three towers at Jackson, Frost and Godhal. CTV brings eight Twin Cities stations to rural areas and cable companies. Customers use a UHF antenna. Hit "autoprogram" on your digital TV to pick up these new channels."
CBS is already broadcasted in high definition by KEYC, Mankato, and Mankato FOX in standard digital from its Lewisville tower (in the Truman area).
So is it time to go TV shopping? Not necessarily. “You do not need to rush out to the store to buy a digital TV or high-definition TV,” Burud added. “For CTV viewers your existing analog TV will still work. Another option is to buy the digital-to-analog converter box for $50 to $70 available from TV/electronic stores or chain stores. However, the government is offering $40 coupons to offset the price. These coupons are available at www.dtv2009.gov or call 1-888-388-2009. Each household is eligible for two converter box coupons, but the coupon expires within 90 days from being issued.
“We ask that CTV viewers do NOT go out and buy these converter boxes right now,” Burud stated. “Our CTV engineers are determining which brands will be compatible with CTV’s digital signal and still pass through CTV’s analog signal. We will make a recommendation by spring on which brands work using CTV’s signal.”
CTV is investing $500,000 to bring these high-definition digital TV to the rural areas. “The monthly price of $5 for CTV service will not change in 2008,” Burud said. “However, if the channels are well received and subscribers want all of the CTV channels high-definition digital, the CTV board will consider it, along with pricing changes. Each channel costs CTV between $50,000 and $100,000 for the conversion.”
If you have more questions about digital and high-definition TV, go to www.dtv.gov.
The new high definition networks will broadcast on all three CTV towers (Jackson, Frost and Godahl).
CTV was created in 1992 by four rural electric cooperatives: BENCO Electric, Mankato; Brown County Rural Electrical Association, Sleepy Eye; Federated Rural Electric, Jackson; and South Central Electric, St. James.
